Science Hack Day-2017,Belgaum

Finally it was the time to go the most awaited event "Science Hack Day" to meet and hack with the passionate people. This time also the venue was "Sankalp Bhoomi"  a resort built totally from discarded materials and salvaged waste.

Day 0:

We started here from Pune early morning for Belgaum and reached there by Lunch time. After reaching we were happy to meet people there, everyone was busy preparing for SHD Day-1. Then we had lunch. After lunch we put our stuffs in room and were told to take some rest but who wants to take rest when so much of interesting things were  going around. So after keeping the luggage in the room, we joined other people in the discussions. It was good to meet people whom we met last year, also good to meet new people . After the discussions we decided to do kayaking as I enjoyed it a lot last time. Also this time we had cycles in  Sankalp Bhoomi just to take a ride around it, so all of us enjoyed that. Then in the evening there was a introductory session where all of us gathered to introduce ourself and know each others hack idea .  This session was very good as we came to know about different projects and hacks which we can join .

Day 1:

After having breakfast, we started with Inaugural Function. Then Mentors shared their hack ideas, so that people can join any team according to their interest. Also,we had an aero modelling session followed by the practical where we can see the aircraft fying. After this people moved to the hacker space. Groups were formed and people started working on their ideas. 3D pens were the point of attraction which were brought by Nisha and Siddhesh, also 3D printer setup was a major task on which lot of people were working. 

There was a soldering workshop which was conducted by Jithin in which school students were having two projects. I helped in that work shop by helping students with soldering and troubleshooting as in the end some of the circuits were not working . So I just helped them to fix it.

After this we had lunch, then I moved to the hacker space and tried something with 3D pen. I was quite interested about the dome project after listening about in morning  introduction so went there to see how actually people are trying to implement it. It was good to see that they was able to make a base for their dome, they all were working very hard as it was very difficult task as it include so many skills, as some people were drilling holes in bamboo, some were doing calculations, some were tying the bamboo and many more. So hats off to their team effort. 

In evening after tea break again hackers started with the hacks. Then we had lightening talks and dinner. The day didn't finished here, after dinner there were a lot of discussion around technologies and many other things. I went to bed as I was tired and feeling a bit sleepy but the discussions were still going on and in the morning I came to people went to sleep at 4.30 am. 

Day 2:

In the morning as I stepped outside I can't stop myself to take a round around Sankalp Bhumi as it was so refreshing. Then breakfast was served and after that people started with their hack ideas. As by lunch they have to finish with their hack. After lunch we all gather in the ground for SHD Group Photo, also we did rocket launch made by the students in their workshop. After that hacker moved to main hall to present that ideas, they grabbed a table and set up the project there. Then all people moved to them to see what they have done in the last to days, they explained their projects. After that there was voting to award the best hack.After voting was completed, everyone was waiting curiously for the result in the mean time Hitesh was there to address the crowd. Then the result came and the winning team was awarded. It was great to to see the Team making the Dome won as they had put a lot of hard work as working without caring about the hot weather and also the ground was slippery due to rain last night. Then students went to their home. Discussion continued with Dinner and after.....

Highlights:

Session on Aero Modelling: This session taught about the basics of aircrafts and we get to know the functions of aircrafts parts. Also it was fun watching that aircraft in action as it take off touching the sky and returing back to the ground.

3D Pen: 3D pen the point of attraction for whole from kids to adults. They tried with writing their name to making some 3D images. I also tried some stuffs and make a model for the Dome which people were making.

3D Printer: 3D printer, everyone was excited to see that working. So people were trying to assemble it. It was also interesting

Dome Home: I find it quite interesting as people were quite involved in it starting from drilling, nailing the nails, measuring and tying the bamboos, maintaining the symmetry. Also I loved the chandelier made by the girls as a decorative item for the Dome Home.

Ping-pong Ball:  This was a nice project the students, it was nice to see the ball dancing on the top of water.

Mixture prepared by Praveen Patil:  It was a great effort by Praveen to prepare that liquid mixture on which we can walk. So he made it possible walking on liquid without getting into it. Nice experiment by him.

Interaction with SHD-San Francisco: In SF Science Hack Day was going on in parallel, so it was nice to connect with hackers across the globe.

So, attending Science Hack Day was one of the best part of this year for me. Thanks to all the organizers, sponsors, mentors, volunteers and participants for making this event successful . 

Looking forward to attend SHD-2018.

Keep Hacking........

Science Hack Day, Belgaum

Science Hack Day, was one of the great event attended by me. I feel lucky to be there as everything was so perfect from venue to the arrangements made by Praveen Patil, Sankalp Bhumi is a very beautiful and peaceful place with all the natural beauty. After reaching there it was a beautiful evening and then we had dinner which was so good. After having dinner we went to sleep as we all were tired after a long journey. 

Day-1

In morning I got up by a natural alarm which was not set by me, it was the voice was cock, who were there at Sankalp Bhumi. After getting up I just opened the door and a cool breeze blew on my face making me more refreshing, it was such a beautiful morning. Then I stepped out of my room, and sat on the chair outside my room watching the lake and small fishes in the lake in front of my room, by that time Hong was also up from her sleep and joined me outside. It was such a pleasure to see Ducks swimming in the water. After spending some time there, I went to take shower as breakfast was to be served at 9am, and after that the event was going to start. So after the breakfast, the event started with the introduction, Praveen Patil and Hitesh started the event with the introduction, " What the event was and what we are going to do in these two days". Then mentors shared their ideas that what they are going to do, so that people who were their without any ideas can join them according to their interest. It was so interesting that school student were also going to join us, even student from 5th standard came there for the event, it was so good to see them. After the lightening talks from mentors, hacking began at the place which was decided for hackers and it was also so beautiful. We all were set to start with our ideas, I was just planning to join Nisha in making the "Cookie Smarter", then I came to know that the School student are making a Solar Latern and they might need help in Soldering and I was perfect in this as I have two years experience so I made up my mind to help them to convert the solar energy to electrical energy. And I was surprised to see a huge number of students were interested in it. Then we just distributed the components to the student, and told them about the precautions to be taken while soldering and we started to make solar latern which was a workshop organised by Jithin who came from Delhi , thanks to him for all his time and the components. Also some students were making Science Toys at another place. 

Then the day ended with hacking and ligtening talks by hackers and mentors. Also there was a demo by Prabhu Sir on Fuel conservation by burning bio-organic mass. Then we all had dinner and discussion with people, I was able to meet a lot of new people . In the end we had a laser show by Praveen Patil and it was awesome, enjoyed by everyone there. After seeing the show everyone was wishing to have a Physics teacher like him.

Day-2

Again the day started with a alarm by the cock, and I went for a walk with Praveen around Salkalp Bhumi to explore it more. Then we all had breakfast and set for hacking again. Again there was a Science workshop for kids. I was again with the students for helping them in soldering, after the workshop I went to hacking place where everyone was ready to present their project, as after lunch they have to show demo of their project. So after lunch demos begin each team was given time to represent their project. There were 11 teams in total, they all described about their projects. Projects are listed below:

1. Sun Tracking

2. Making Cookie smart 

3. Nodemcu and MicroPython

4. Web VR

5. Alarm System using NodeMCU

6. Chrome Extension to convert Text to Speech 

7. Symposium 

8. Organic Map

9. Beautiful Belgaum Map

10. Moodlight and IoT switch

11. Motion Detector

There were four categories on the basis of which the award was given:

1. The Most Socially Useful Hack- Sun Tracking

2. The Best Education Hack-  Chrome Extension to convert Text to Speech

3. The Best Science Hack- Organic Map

4. The Audience Favorite Hack-  Motion Detector

Then the medals were given to the winning teams which were bought by Hong. Then we all had discussions over tea. Everyone was exchanging their ideas and were making new friends. The time was moving so fast and the night came. Before dinner we have Rahul Prabhukhanolkar with us who was describing us about Bat Conservation on which he was working,as Siddhesh want to know more about it as he also want to contribute. It was so interesting how he was using the ultrasonic frequencies to detect a Bat movement, and  he also told us about different Bat species which were unknown to us. Also he showed us the device used by him to detect Bat, then we had  a practical with it. We went out to detect the motion of Bat and we were able to detect the Bat movement. I, Nisha and Siddhesh tried listening the noise and we were able to detect it.  Then we had a get together where we discussed about our experiences, event and many more things. After that we went for the dinner, there also we had  a long discussion, it was like no one wants to sleep as next morning we were going to leave, so we want to utilize each and every momemt of that day. But as some people were leaving in night only, so we ended up with the discussion and were in our room. Hong and I planned to see a movie or series with others but it was too late and we had to leave early also, so we both slept. 

On 24th, we woke up at early and left at 5.30 am, as all of us had office, so we said bye to Hong, looking forward to meet her at FOSSASIA, Singapore next year.

For Belgaum:

It was a great event with a lot of energy, you all were awesome. Students were so interested and keen to learn new technology. Best of luck to the students for future. We all got lot of positive energy from this event, I personally got motivated by seeing the environment at Belgaum. I want to come to Belgaium for the next event. Thanks to all the organizers ( Hong Phuc Dang, Praveen Patil, Rahul, Shrikrishna Prabhu, Bandu Majukar, Sanjay Kulkarni, Suyash, Hitesh, Jithin, Minal, Nitesh, Akshai, Abdul and many more.....) for such a great event and hope you will continue it, so that we can visit Belgaum again and get a chance to meet you all : ) .

For more photos visit: https://www.flickr.com/groups/3087939@N23/pool

Belgaum-Swimming class, Kayaking and Hack Day

Belgaum, unplanned journey and event, as I was not having any plan to attend it before I attended yesterday Pyladies Meetup, where Kushal and few other people told us to join them for the Hackers Day which was in Belgaum on 22nd and 23rd. So we planned to attend that as it sounds interesting, so quickly I mailed my manager(Swati) for that to take her permission and she replied yes for that, so sweet of her : ). So we planned to leave with Nisha as she was having space in her car, but then we came to know that Kushal is leaving early morning and we can reach there by 2, then we decided to leave with him so that after reaching there I can do my office work. Today we started 6.30 in morning from Pune and it was not that much traffic so we crossed Pune without any stucking in traffic and we were on the Highway. We were five people in the car I, Dang Hong Phuc(whom I meet in Pyladies meetup), Praveen, Sayan and Kushal So Kushal drive the whole way to  Belgaum, it was the longest distance covered by him till now( I guess around 350 km), in the way we enjoyed the mountains, greenery and too many tolls :P. After paying so much of toll I noticed one thing we paid least amount for the road which was best throughout our journey, I must say Karnataka highway is way too good, we all enjoyed the journey. Then we reached the venue where we were going to hack, Praveen Patil leaded us there. After that we went for lunch as all of us were very hungry.

After lunch we were back to the resort and then I just rushed to my room to connect the wi-fi and my laptop, then I started with my work. After completing the work for today, I went with Hong as we have seen the swimming pool in the resort and she told she will train me how to swim, then we went to the pool. After going there we realised the water was very cool, so I was afraid to go in and I was worried we will get cold, also I didn’t know the abc of swimming :P and we have to be there for next two days for Hack Day. But Hong was so excited that she entered the water and then I also followed her. As I didn’t know how to swim, it took a lot of her effort to make me float in water. She told me how I can balance my body, how to move my hands and legs. A great thanks to her as it was her effort and confidence that atleast I was able to float and balance my body in water without any support. For swimming she is my first Trainer, when I will swim the first person who will come to my mind is Hong. As it was evening already so we then came back to resort and changed. Upto that time Saptak and Praveen were there outside, so we joined them for Kayaking.

Then we went for Kayaking , and I was so confident after Hong swimming class that I can save myself if I will fall down :P. It was a great fun and we were missing Nisha who has not reached yet and Anwesha also who was not able to come due to some reason. The resort is very good, everywhere greenery is there, we were able to see rabbit, peacock and ducks here. They offered cocoa welcome drink, and cocoa was from their farm only, everything is so natural here. Also I got a chance to swim and do Kayaking without any guide, which was the best part of today. We just unwind the rope and started Kayaking. Now we all are excited for the Science Hack Day.

Eagerly waiting for the Hackers day and the workshop which is tomorrow, excited to meet new people and school children as they will also be joining us.