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natHACKS Letter n natHACKS Letter a natHACKS Letter t natHACKS Letter H natHACKS Letter A natHACKS Letter C natHACKS Letter K natHACKS Letter S
NOVEMBER 14 - 17TH
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Apply now!
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Hackers

Expand your skills, make friends, forge connections with sponsors, and partake in an unforgettable weekend!

Hacker Application
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Problem Providers

Do you face a problem that you think might be solvable with a neurotech solution?

Submit your real-world challenge and guide your team in developing a tech-based solution!

Provider Application
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Mentoring

If you are a tech- or business-savvy individual, with significant demonstrable experience, you can support project teams through a mentorship role.
Applications now open!

Mentor Application
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Judging

Do you have a keen eye for what makes an exceptional project?

Judge projects on their technical/business prowess
Applications now open!

Contact us!
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Volunteering

What's better than attending an event that builds your skills, your network, and your friend group while having fun doing it?

For some people, the answer might be "making that event possible!"
Applications now open!

Volunteer Application
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Swag Bags

You will receive exclusive natHACKS swag!

We recommend applying early to secure your bag before they run out! Applications now open!

Claim Now!
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Networking

When searching for a job your network is your net worth!

73% of respondents in a LinkedIn survey claim they were hired through someone in their network.

Networking Events
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Albertan

We have Two physical hacking sites across the province in Edmonton and Lethbridge.

Not able to make it to one of our hacking sites? Join natHACKS remote at our virtual hackathon!

Find a Location!
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Learning

natHACKS boasts 20+ hours of workshops to prepare you for the weekend. They cover Python, BCI Hardware, Git, Machine Learning, and more!

More About Workshops
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Divisions

Choose your battle, compete in smaller cohorts, and have better odds of securing prizes!

View last year's divisions below.

More About divisions
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Prizes

Win some serious dough to take your massive idea to the next level.

All winners are eligible for in-kind support from our various startup service providers!

More About Prizes
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Hardware

BCI hardware is available for all hackers, so you can have a hands-on experience developing a neurotech program with your own brain data!

More About Hardware
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natPortal

You can find all dynamic natHACKS info live on natPortal!

You'll receive your account sign-in credentials once your application is accepted

Launch natPortal
November 14
November 15
November 16
November 17
Edmonton
Lethbridge
Virtual
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natHACKS
Locations

Where can you natHACK at?

natHACKS is hosted as a hybrid hackathon across Alberta! We have in-person hacking sites in Edmonton and Lethbridge. Participants are also able to join us virtually from anywhere across Alberta or around the world (as long as >50% of your team is from Alberta)!

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YEG
Edmonton

Students Union Building (SUB)

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YQL
Lethbridge

Science Commons (SA-7230)

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VIR
Virtual

Anywhere!

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natHACKS
Workshops

Build Your Knowledge

Leading up to and during natHACKS, we have a number of workshops hosted by domain experts to equip you with all the skills you need to succeed and excel through the weekend!

Educational Sprint
Async
Python Intro
Video on natPortal
Async
Python Intermediate
Video on natPortal
Async
Fundamentals
Building with Neurotech
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 4
17:00-18:00
Mon
Neurosci in Neurotech
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 4
18:00-19:00
Mon
BrainFlow for OpenBCI
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 5
17:00-18:00
Tue
Neuropawn Hardware
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 6
17:00-19:00
Wed
Machine Learning Intro
Virtual
Nov 7
17:00-18:00
Thu
Data Science
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 13
17:00-19:00
Wed
natHACKS 2024 Opening Ceremony
Hybrid
Nov 14
17:00-18:00
Thu
Hardware Primer
Edmonton: Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov 14
20:30-21:30
Thu
Neuro Fundamentals
Edmonton: Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov 14
23:00-00:00
Thu
Innovation Mixer
Orion & Cascade - Student Union Building
Nov 15
13:00-16:00
Fri
Tooling
Get Your Git Together
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Oct 31
18:00-19:00
Thu
Hardware Zero
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 1
18:00-19:00
Fri
UX Design - Figma Quickstarter
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 8
17:00-18:00
Fri
Project Management
Edmonton: Student Innovation Centre, Main Floor
Nov 11
17:00-19:00
Mon
Cover your Assets IP
Virtual
Nov 12
18:00-20:00
Tue
Digital Research Alliance: Utilizing Open Data
Virtual
Nov 15
10:00-11:00
Fri
Hacking
Alberta Innovates EOIC
Edmonton: In-Person Location
Nov 9
13:00-16:00
Sat
Hackathon 101
Edmonton: Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov 14
19:00-19:30
Thu
During-HACKS Workshops
natHACKS
Hardware Primer
Edmonton: Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov 14
20:30-21:30
Thu
Neuro Fundamentals
Edmonton: Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov 14
23:00-00:00
Thu
Submitting Your Project and Making an Engaging Submission Video
Edmonton: Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov 16
17:00-18:00
Sat
Entrepreneuroship
Edmonton: Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov 16
19:00-20:00
Sat
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Problem
Providers

Provide a Real World Problem for natHACKS Participants

Do you have an interesting challenge that is conducive to a neurotechnology or bio-sensing solution? A backburner idea you want to get off the ground but don't have bandwidth to develop?

Problem Providers will benefit from the opportunity to explore their ideas in a de-risked, zero cost environment. There's a chance you may even come across talent that would be an asset to your research group!

Mitigating Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy Effects
Cognitive Monitoring for Seniors
Neurotech for Senior Social Connection
A BCI for Playing Chess
Caregiver for Well-Being Enhancement
Cue Based Sensory Therapy Tool for Older Adults
NeuroSim: Reinventing Drug Design
Alcohol Withdrawal Monitoring through Neurotech
Adapting wellbeing language for measurement frameworks
EEG-based Measure of Visuospatial Processing
Early Neurodegeneration Detection
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natHACKS
Divisions

Choose Your Hack Track!

All hackers choose the track they want to compete in. All tracks compete for their own prizes in seperate pools

The five hacker tracks are divided into two categories:

1. Problem Provider Division

    - Problem Providers define problems
    - Hackers bid for the problem/solution they work on
    - Teams are hackers who choose same problem/solution

2. Standard Division

    - Starter problems are available for inspiration
    - Hackers define the problem/solution they work on
    - Teams are hackers who choose to work together

Are you interested in the Standard Division, but you don't have a team yet? Fret not! We have several networking and educational events leading up to natHACKS for you to meet potential team members.

Teams can be formed any time before 23:59 November 16th on natPortal.

Every team is required to have 5-6 members with >50% of members being Albertan.

More About Divisions
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Problem Provider


Expert-Defined Project
Short on ideas? Get a kickstart and support from an industry professional!

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Standard
Division
Research Track


Team-Defined Project
Projects related to novel methodologies in collecting, analyzing, or visualizing brain data

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Standard
Division
Rehabilitation Track


Team-Defined Project
Projects related to assessing, diagnosing, and/or treating neuro disorders

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Standard
Division
Recreation Track


Team-Defined Project
Projects related to entertainment and leisure

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Standard Division
Junior Track


Team-Defined Project
Restricted, <2 years of CMPUT experience

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natHACKS
Prizes

Cha Ching

natHACKS prizes are in the form of seed funding for continuing the development of your project. The prizes are all 50% monetary and 50% in-kind (legal services, cloud compute resources, business mentorship) services, so first place in the Standard Division is awarded $2000 monetary seed funding and $2000 in-kind services from our sponsors = $4000 total prizes.

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Problem Provider
Problem Provider Track


$4000   1st Place
$2000   2nd Place
$1000   3rd Place

research track, standard division
Standard Division
Research Track


$4000   1st Place
$2000   2nd Place

rehabilitation track, standard division
Standard Division
Rehabilitation Track


$4000   1st Place
$2000   2nd Place

recreation track, standard division
Standard Division
Recreation Track


$4000   1st Place
$2000   2nd Place

junior track, standard division
Standard Division
Junior Track


$2000   Best Overall

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natHACKS
Evaluation

How Are You Scored?

Judges complete a scoresheet for every project similar to the example below:

  • /10: Technical Complexity

  • /10: Functionality

  • /10: Creativity & Innovation

  • /5: Commercial Viability

  • /5: Delivery

  • /5: Demonstration

  • /5: Impact

  • /5: Written Summary

You will then receive a score /55 that represents your project.

During the Qualifiers round there's multiple rooms, each with their own panel of judges.

To account for differing judging styles and to promote fairness between the rooms, your score to continue to Finals will be computed as a "Room Percentage". Using this scoring system, your final score is:

Room Percentage = (Your Project's Points) / (Total Points Awarded to Room)

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natHACKS
Hardware

Beep Boop

Brain-Computer Interfacing hardware is usually pretty dang hard to get your hands on. That is, if you aren't at natHACKS! We offer several BCI devices for use through the hackathon, including but not limited to:

Information about hardware available can be found in section 8 of the rules document.

Hardware Rules
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natPortal

natHACKS Central!

You can find all dynamic natHACKS info live on natPortal!

You'll receive your account signin credentials once your application is accepted

Launch natPortal
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natHACKS
Rules

We Thought About Dropping The Rules.. But Our Lawyers Didn't Like That

We don't like reading a ton of rules (and odds are you also don't!), Here's the key points to know:

  1. At least 50% of team members must reside in Alberta to be eligible for project awards.
  2. You consent to your likeness being captured in photos and videos during the event.
  3. We are only able to ship hardware to the US and Canada (excluding Quebec).

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the full rules document prior to the event.

Full Rules
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natHACKS
Organizers

Look, Mom! We're on TV!

Meet the team getting all the natHACKS '23 ducks in a row.

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Yash
Mouje

Co-President

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Hiritikk
Kumar

Co-President

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Eden
Redman

Executive Director

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Evelyn
Redman

Chief Marketing Officer

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Jihoon
Og

Director of Logistics

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Kashish
Aggarwal

Director of Events

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Miles
Esclanda

Director of Comm.

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Kyle
Simon

Director of HR

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Ruby
Prinsen

Director of Education

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Kevin
Ding

Director of Judging

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Saachi
Gupta

Director of Hardware

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Aum
Patel

Director of Innovation

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Melia
Phung

Director of Marketing

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Kenneth
Agony

Director of Staff

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Vishal
Sivakumar

Judge & Mentor Coord.

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Charvi

Logistics Coordinator

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Shreya
Ghosh

Volunteer Coordinator

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Mani
Vahdatizadeh

Media Outreach Coord.

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Namish
Bafna

Wellness & VIP Support Coord.

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Rishit
Gajjar

Judging Coordinator

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Eric
Fung

natPortal Associate

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Amna
Nadeem

Problem Provider Coord.

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Jordan
Dudley

Lethbridge Operations Coord.

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Mae
Pacificar

Education Associate

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Rinki
Shah

Design Associate

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Vagdevi
Ponugupati

Hardware & AV Associate

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Lishal
Zacharias

Social Media Associate

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Jaytegan

Events Associate

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Banyu
Bening

Communications Associate

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Ritika
Raval

Wellness Associate

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Paul
Belland

natPortal Associate

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Abinand
Nanthananthan

natPortal Associate

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natHACKS 2023
Sponsors

These folks are key to the success of natHACKS! Take some time to learn more about these sponsors and what they do.

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Campus Alberta Neuroscience

Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN) was established by the Alberta neuroscience community in 2012 with support from the Government of Alberta to accelerate understanding of the brain, improve brain health through collaboration, develop the province as a centre of neuroscience excellence, and improve quality of life in Alberta and beyond. Our network helps accelerate new research advances, both of pure discovery and those with the potential for translation into new products and protocols. Together, our organization and partners push towards creating new ways for students, researchers, and industry to work, learn, and innovate collaboratively to help make Alberta the epicentre for brain scientists.

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Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation

The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) is a solution accelerator focused on driving innovation in the aging and brain health sector. CABHI is a unique collaboration of healthcare, science, industry, not-for-profit and government partners whose aim is to improve quality of life for the world’s aging population, allowing older adults of all backgrounds and abilities to age safely in the setting of their choice while maintaining their cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being.

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Government of Alberta

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TC Energy

We're a team of 7,000+ energy problem solvers working to move, generate and store the energy North America relies on. Today, we're taking action to make that energy more sustainable and more secure.

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Edmonton Regional Innovation Network

The Edmonton Regional Innovation Network (ERIN) is a coalition of organisations in the Edmonton region that support innovation startups and enterprises. ERIN support service provider programs aimed at assisting innovation companies improve market readiness with the goal of increasing profitability and longevity. ERIN, which is funded by Alberta Innovates' Regional Innovation Network, exists to help entrepreneurs start and grow innovative businesses.

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National Research Council Canada

Learn more about the NRC's mandate and history, explore our programs, browse current career opportunities at the NRC, find out about related initiatives and policies, and get the information you need to reach us.

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Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute

One of Canada's three centres of AI excellence as part of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Amii (the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) is an Alberta-based non-profit institute that supports world-leading research in artificial intelligence and machine learning and translates scientific advancement into industry adoption. Amii grows AI capabilities through advancing leading-edge research, delivering exceptional educational offerings and providing business advice - all with the goal of building in-house AI capabilities.

Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories
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We provide information, support and education and advocate for people living with dementia. Through our seven regional offices, we offer Help for Today through our programs and services, and Hope for Tomorrow by funding research to find the cause and the cure.

Glenrose Rehabilitation Research, Innovation & Technology
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The Imagination Centre at the Glenrose Hospital is home to clinical and research programs that focus on neuroadaptive technologies, including theBrain-Computer Interface (BCI) Program, bringing together families, clinicians, researchers, and engineers to connect neuroadaptive technologies with individuals across the lifespan living with severe neurological disability. Visit us at www.imagination-centre.ca.

OpenBCI
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OpenBCI creates open-source hardware and software for biosensing. OpenBCI's mission is to lower the barrier to entry for brain-computer interfacing, while ensuring that these technologies are adopted into the consumer landscape in an ethical way that protects user agency and mental health.

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At Parlee McLaws LLP, we have been building strong relationships with our clients for well over a century.

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The River City Venture Clinic is a student-run legal clinic that provides free legal support to start-ups and change-makers in the greater Edmonton Area.

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GURU is the world’s first natural energy drink; delivering good taste and GOOD ENERGY to recharge your mind and body. Filled with carefully-sourced ingredients.

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ISAIC (Industry Sandbox & AI Computing) is a service provider, offering computational resources to Western Canadian startups, SMEs, and instructors with AI projects.

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The Film and Video Arts Society of Alberta (FAVA) has been supporting Alberta's independent filmmakers since 1982.

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Agility fosters campus innovation through our collaborative makerspace, entrepreneurial programming, and connection to the local innovation ecosystem.

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Precision Health (PH) is an emerging approach to health and wellness that expands on efforts to understand, diagnose and treat disease through advances in technology.

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The Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an interdisciplinary, embedded undergraduate student certificate offered by eHUB at the University of Alberta. Visit UAB.CA/CIE.

*Your Logo Here*

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. Contact us to learn more!

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