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natHACKS!
Registration Has Closed.
natHACKS is an event like no other, inspiring beginners to develop
practical neurotech skills and challenging competent hackers
to apply themselves in this growing and exciting field. Spanning
two weeks and culminating in a 64-hour hackathon weekend, the
event will combine workshops, challenges, and networking opportunities
for anyone interested in neurotechnology. With three different
streams and separate judging criteria based on experience level,
we're thrilled to allow neurotech enthusiasts to get their hands
dirty in a diverse selection of projects.
Deadline to Apply: July 15th, 2022
Begins: July 29th, 2022
Ends: August 1st, 2022
If you have already registered, you should have access to
our internally developed hackathon hub natPortal! You will
be able to access everything natHACKS on the portal
including links to workshops, online events, workshop
recordings, boilerplates, rules, and much much more!
You should be able to sign is using a Google account associated
with the email that you provided us during signup! If the email you provided during signup is not
associated with a Google Account that's okay! Send a Discord DM to either 'Cameron Hildebrandt#1633'
or 'loom#5760' including the email address you registered with
and the email that is associated with your Google Account and
they can change your access.
Senior Streams (3):
1st Place: $2000 CAD
2nd Place: $1000 CAD
Junior Stream:
1st Place: $1000 CAD
All winners are eligible for in-kind support from our
various startup service providers!
BCI hardware is available for hackers, so you can have a
hands-on experience developing a neurotech program with
your own brain data!
Available for pickup (over a week before hacking starts)
at our 3 in-person hacking sites or shipped for virtual
participants.
Leading up to and during the hackathon, we will be hosting 20+ hours of workshops to get you up to speed on Python, BCI Hardware, Git, Machine Learning and more!
You are eligible to receive exclusive NAT swag just by
completing your submission!
We recommend applying
early to ensure you snag one before they run out!
Building a network is important! One of the strongest factors contributing to successful job applications is your network. If you think you want to pursue a career in neurotech, neuroscience, or tech, this is the place to build your network!
Application deadline to apply for hardware is July 8th.
Apply to receive brain-computer interface (BCI) hardware for use
during the event though NeurAlbertaTech's internal signup form here!
BCI Hardware will be available for pickup as early as July 22th,
until the hackathon, at daily weekday in-person office hours (UofA,
UofC, UofL)
OR during the hackathon at the in-person hacking sites
Virtual participants will have hardware shipped to them.
A limited number of devices with waived deposits are in place for
those in financial need.
Note that hardware use is not mandatory to succeed at the event.
Provide a Real World Neurotech Problem for natHACKS
Participants
De-risk R&D, by having a zero-cost team of innovators work on a
solution for your company, it only requires attending Pitch Night and 2-3 hours of support for the team!
Pick from any of the three Senior Tracks: Recreation, Rehabilitation,
or Research
Submit up to 3 Problems, before July 8th.
| Time | July 29th | July 30th | July 31st | August 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 - 10:00 | Coding Problem 9:00 - 10:00 | Coding Problem 9:00 - 10:00 | Hacking ENDS Ends at 10:00 | |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Goodlawyer Workshop10:00 - 11:00 | Hacking | Naptime 10:00 - 11:00 | |
| Teams Helping Teams 10:30 - 11:00 | ||||
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Lunch + Trivia 2 11:00 - 11:30 | Lunch 11:00 - 12:00 | Lunch 11:00 - 12:00 | |
| Lunch 11:30 - 12:00 | ||||
| 12:00 - 13:00 | Hunter Hub Workshop12:00 - 13:00 | Trivia 3 12:00 - 12:30 | Judging 12:00 - 16:00 | |
| Hacking | ||||
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Teams Helping Teams 13:00 - 14:00 | Workshop 413:00 - 14:00 | ||
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Booth Event 14:00 - 17:00 | Hacking | ||
| 15:00 - 16:00 | Swag Bag Pickup 15:00 - 16:00 | |||
| 16:00 - 17:00 | Dinner 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Booth 16:00 - 18:00 | Closing Ceremony16:00 - 17:00 | |
| 17:00 - 18:00 | Opening Ceremony17:00 - 18:00 | Dinner 17:00 - 18:00 | Workshop 517:00 - 18:00 | |
| 18:00 - 19:00 | Hacking | Workshop 318:00 - 19:00 | Dinner 18:00 - 19:00 | |
| 19:00 - 20:00 | Hacking | Workshop 619:00 - 20:00 | ||
| 20:00 - 21:00 | Trivia 20:00 - 20:30 | SSBU Tourney20:00 - 24:00 | Team Helping Teams 20:00 - 21:00 | |
| Hacking | ||||
| 21:00 - 22:00 | Bob Ross Paint Night 21:00 - 21:30 | Hacking | ||
| Hacking | Team Helping Teams 21:30 - 22:30 | |||
| 22:00 - 23:00 | Team Helping Teams 22:00 - 23:00 | |||
| Movie Night22:00 - 24:00 | ||||
| 23:00 - 24:00 | Hacking |
Pre-natHACKS Sub-Events
natHACKS is so much more than just a weekend! Be sure
to get involved with events we host leading up to natHACKS
to learn more, network, and start the brainstorming for
your project!
The two weeks leading up to the hackathon will also feature
1-2 workshop every weekday, find them in their very own
"Workshops" tab (starting on July 18th).
UofA + Virtual
July 14th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm mt
Come out to learn everything you'll need
to know about participating in Canada's Largest
Brain-Computer Interfacing Hackathon!
The Info Night will also feature hacker-to-hacker
networking for those looking for teams. Pizza
will be served in-person at the U of A.
Completely Virtual
July 15th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm mt
Meet our amazing Problem Providers (clinicians,
academics, and industry professionals bringing
real-world neurotech problems) and join a
team focused on solving their problem.
The Pitch Night will also feature hacker-to-hacker
networking for those looking for additional
team members!
During-natHACKS Sub-Events
During the hackathon weekend there are several notable
events for which you should RSVP for seperately!
You can find all these event listed in the Schedule Tab!
Pre-hack workshops
| Date | Workshop | Suggested Attendees | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous - 1 Hour | Python I | Beginner Hackers | Cameron Hildebrandt |
| Asynchronous - 1 Hour | Python II | Beginner Hackers | Cameron Hildebrandt |
| Asynchronous - 2 Hours | Python III | All Hackers (using python) | Cameron Hildebrandt |
| Asynchronous - 2 Hours | Python IV | All Hackers (using python) | Cameron Hildebrandt |
| Asynchronous - 1 Hour | Connecting Hardware | Everyone using commercial hardware | Eden Redman |
| July 18th - 17:00-18:00mt | Neurotech Fundamentals | All Hackers | Pauline Balogun |
| July 19th - 17:00-18:00mt | Software Project Management | Everyone, especially team leads | Eden Redman |
| July 20th - 17:00-19:00mt | Browser-Based BCIs: The Basics | All Hackers using Brains@Play boilerplate | Garrett Flynn |
| July 21st - 17:00-19:00mt | Browser-Based BCIs: Publishing a Simple Neurofeedback App | All Hackers using Brains@Play boilerplate | Garrett Flynn |
| July 22nd - 17:00-18:30mt | Python ML | All Hackers using Python | Jesus Acosta Franco |
| July 25th - 17:00-19:00mt | PyQt5 Boiler Intro I | All Hackers using Python | Madeleine Ridgway |
| July 25th - 18:30mt-19:30mt | Hands-on BioAmp hardware design and biopotential signals processing for HCI & BCI applications | All Hackers using Upside Down Labs equipment | Deepak Khatri |
| July 26th - 16:30-18:30mt | PyQt5 Boiler Intro II | All Hackers using Python | Paul Saunders |
| July 26th - 18:30mt | Introduction to JupyterHub on the ISAIC GPU Cloud | All Hackers using cloud computing (Presented by ISAIC) | Omid Hajihassani |
| July 27th - 17:00mt | Introduction to the Rapid Access Cloud | All Hackers using cloud computing (Presented by Cybera) | Michael Jones |
| July 27th - 18:30-19:30mt | Unity Boiler Intro | All Hackers using Unity boilerplate | Eden Redman |
| July 28th - 17:00-19:00mt | Circuit Design Fundamentals | All Hackers using Arduino/Pi | Ime Asamudo |
| July 28th - 18:30-19:30mt | Hackathon 101 | All Hackers | Noah Batiuk |
During-Hackathon Workshops
| Date | Workshop | Suggested Attendees | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 30th - 10:00-11:00mt | Raising Startup Capital: Find Your Lead Investor | All Hackers (Hosted by Goodlawyer) | Josh Weinberger |
| July 30th - 12:00-13:00mt | Prototyping and agile product development | All Hackers (Hosted by Hunter Hub) | Fay Qian |
| July 30th - 17:00-18:00mt | How to pitch and the importance of storytelling | All Hackers (Hosted by Hunter Hub) | Fay Qian |
| July 31st - 13:00-14:00mt | TBD | All Hackers | TBD |
| July 31st - 17:00-18:00mt | TBD | All Hackers | TBD |
| July 31st - 19:00-20:00mt | TBD | All Hackers | TBD |
Presenters
Cameron Hildebrandt
Presenting in: Python I, Python
II, Python III, Python IV
Cameron Hildebrandt works on website
development throughout NeurAlbertaTech.
He is also helping out with the natHACKS
marketing team this year!
Eden Redman
Presenting: Connecting Hardware,
Project Management, Unity Boiler
Intro
Eden Redman is the Executive Director
of NeurAlbertaTech the NPO, with
a passion for computational neuroscience
he has been striving to translate
research into tangible applications.
Over the past several years, he has
worked to build a Alberta-wide community
and ecosystem around functional neurotechnology.
Pauline Balogun
Presenting: Neurotech Fundamentals
Pauline Balogun is a PhD student
in the neuroscience program offered
by the Neuroscience and Mental Health
Institute at the University of Alberta.
Her research area is in computational
psychiatry, working with big data
and artificial intelligence, especially
as applied in mental health and precision
healthcare. Her main area of focus
involves developing diagnostic and
predictive technology using the Canadian
Longitudinal Study of Aging. She
also works in collaboration with
Alberta Health Services on a number
of projects.
Garrett Flynn
Presenting: Browser-Based
BCIs: The Basics, Browser-Based BCIs:
Publishing a Simple Neurofeedback
App
Garrett Flynn is a neurotechnologist,
web engineer, and founding partner
of Brains@Play: a free software collective
that develops public biomedical infrastructure
on the Open Web. He recently graduated
from the University of Southern California
with a BS in Computational Neuroscience
and an MA in Cinematic Arts (Media
Arts, Games, and Health).
Alejandro Acosta
Presenting:Python ML
Alejandro Acosta is a Biomedical
Engineering PhD student at UofA,
his current research is focused on
the analysis and processing of biomedical
signals, he also holds a bachelor's
and a master's on this topic. He
is passionate about science, health
care systems, artificial intelligence,
teaching, and new technologies. As
a hobby, he likes video games, movies
and books of thrillers and science
fiction.
Madeleine Ridgway
Presenting: PyQt5 Boiler Intro
I
Madeliene Ridgway is an Honors Neuroscience
student at the UofA, going into her
fourth year. She has been involved
with NAT since January 2021, mostly
working on coding - she worked on
Bermuda and a validation study for
Koalacademy, in addition to the natHacks
boilerplates. Outside school, she
writes and plays video games.
Deepak Khatri
Presenting: Hands-on BioAmp hardware
design and biopotential signals processing
for HCI & BCI applications
Deepak Khatri is a passionate Biotechnologist
with a mindset for innovation and love
for Electronics and Computer Science.
He founded Upside Down Labs to build
affordable hardware & software solutions
for solving real-world problems. Currently,
he is working on novel prosthetics and
human augmentation technology for revolutionizing
the way amputees interact with the environment.
He is crazy to change the world for good
and thinks people will join him slowly
in his long journey to achieve that.
Paul Saunders
Omid Hajihassani
Presenting: Introduction to JupyterHub
on the ISAIC GPU Cloud
Omid Hajihassani received his MSc in
Computer Engineering in 2021 from the
University of Alberta and ever since
has been working at ISAIC as the Machine
Learning and Client Analyst. He is interested
in solving AI problems and providing
MLOps solutions.
Michael Jones
Presenting:Introduction to
the Rapid Access Cloud
Micheal Jones came to Cybera from the
world of film and television (where he
tackled an interesting variety of IT
issues). As well as brewing a fine cup
of coffee for his colleagues, he is also
involved in building many of Cybera's
tools and services. His favourite thing
about working here is knowing that he
is helping Albertans do more.
Ime Asamudo
Noah Batiuk
Presenting in:Hackathon 101
Noah Batiuk is NeurAlbertaTech's token
Engineering student! Over the past few
years I have had the amazing opportunity
to help run events, workshops and coding
competitions all aimed at introducing
beginners to the world of computer programming.
I absolutely love to teach people about
coding, and I cannot wait for people
to experience the tremendous things we
have planned for natHACKS 2022!
Josh Weinberger
Presenting in:Raising Startup
Capital: Find Your Lead Investor
As Chief Legal Officer, Josh helped set
the forward-looking direction and priorities
of Goodlawyer while also managing all
legal matters that Goodlawyer deals with.
With over six years of practice experience
at Canada's largest law firm, Josh understands
the challenges and rewards of full-time
legal practice and leverages his experience
to help support and grow our network
of independent good lawyers.
Fay Qian
Presenting in:Prototyping and
agile product development, How to
pitch and the importance of
storytelling
Fay is a start-up junkie, company-builder,
and ex-executive search consultant. As
the Venture Programs Specialist at the
Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking,
Fay is the program lead for the Launchpad
Incubator Program. This six-month program
aims to build entrepreneurial thinking
skills across UCalgary Community.
Tracks loosely define the scope of
neurotech projects at natHACKS
All teams will have the chance to participate in
a Track of their choice, with three Senior
Tracks related to cutting-edge BCI topics, and a
Junior Track for those new to the neurotech
world. Project ideas and challenges for each
Track will be provided closer to the event.
No one really likes reading lots of rules,
so let's hit the most important things here:
1. We are only able to ship hardware to the
US and Canada (excluding for Quebec).
2. At least 50% of team member must reside
in Alberta to be eligible for project seed funding
awards.
3. If participating in person, you consent
to photo and video capture during the event for future
promotional purposes.
If you're interested in reading the rest of the
rules, visit this document!
Interested in helping further our goals of demystifying neurotechnology and fostering future innovators? Your partnership makes this whole event possible and helps us push the bleeding edge of neurotech. Please contact us if you would be interested in recieving a copy of our sponsorship document and learning more about the long list of benefits we offer.