Be The Spark - Twitter Q&A – Hackathons – 14 September 2017 with Georgina Campbell Flatter, MIT

Transcript

Question 1 - @BeTheSpark

How would you explain ‘Hackathons’?

@GeorgieMIT: Hi- this is going to be fun! Hackathons are supercharged brainstorms. Problem solving on steroids #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: From one of our students: hackathon goal: spark interdisciplinary collaborations! Identify motivated cofounders! Hire new developers! #AskMIT

Question 2 - @BeTheSpark on behalf of @CymruTech

How do you best ensure a Hackathon is inclusive when you get there?

@GeorgieMIT: Inclusion will lead to the best results @CymruTech @BeTheSpark #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: If you have an inclusive organizing team, your design will be inclusive #AskMIT @CymruTech @BeTheSpark #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: There is a powerful code of conduct for hackathons to ensure inclusion https://static.mlh.io/docs/mlh-code-of-conduct.pdf and https://medium.com/hackers-and-hacking/running-an-inclusive-hackathon-630f3f2e5e71 #AskMIT @CymruTech

@GeorgieMIT: Best to build a team that represents the groups you want to engage. #AskMIT #understandyourcustomer Find out what incentives & excites them!

Question 3 - @BeTheSpark on behalf of @TheCottam @FSB_Wales

What does a good mix of disciplines or contributors to a Hackathon look like?

@GeorgieMIT: Get people who are familiar with problem & people that build & make. #industry #customers #coders #designers #AskMIT @TheCottam @FSB_Wales

Question 4 - @DannyDutch

Hi, what 3 pointers can you give for a successful Hackathon? #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Open/ sharing culture; Diverse participation; Good incentives #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: This hackathon guide from @mithackmed is excellent, health-focus but helpful design tips for all:

http://hackingmedicine.mit.edu/assets/Health_Hackathon_Handbook.pdf

#AskMIT

Question 5 - @BeTheSpark on behalf of @PembsCollege

How can newcomers be introduced to a Hackathon with ease?

@GeorgieMIT: Another good article #howtothrowan epic hackathon https://news.mlh.io/how-to-throw-an-epic-hackathon-07-07-2014

#AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Check out mithackmed guide. The http://NYC.gov hackathon guide is also a great resource: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hackathon/html/executive-summary.html #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: 2 types of hackathons – general e.g. #hackingcymru & themed #hackingmedicine #hackingarts #hackingmines #VR/ARhackaton #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: FYI there's entire organizations supporting hackathons - check out @MLHacks guide and group: https://guide.mlh.io @kylejudah #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Run a hackathon experiment, get feedback from participants, iterate, go again.  @PembsCollege @BeTheSpark #AskMIT DON'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL.

Question 6 - @BeTheSpark on behalf of @CymruTech

How do you best ensure a Hackathon is appealing to underrepresented groups?

@GeorgieMIT: Original hacker ethics principles apply to Hackathons: sharing, openness, free access, world improvement @StevenLevy #AskMIT @BeTheSpark

@GeorgieMIT: Best to build a team that represents the groups you want to engage. #AskMIT #understandyourcustomer Find out what incentives & excites them!

@GeorgieMIT: @cymrutech check out @TriciaCotter work http://mitsloanexperts.mit.edu/female-entrepreneurs-gaining-ground-trish-cotter

She cares about inclusion in eship! And has great ideas. #AskMIT

Question 7 - @mattncollins

Do you always need to offer a cash prize as incentive for winning hack teams? What drives engagement? What has worked well at MIT?

@GeorgieMIT: What works well? The better #hackers understand a problem, the better the outcome. #AskMIT @mattncollins

@GeorgieMIT: Also, location is KEY–if you are #hackingmedicine host event in pub opposite hospital. If #hackingart, hack in an art museum/ school #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Drive engagement by getting folks excited about the problem they want to solve #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Cash prize is recognition more than $ itself. Benefits to participants are far greater #findateam #problemsolve #fun #network #build #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: A small $ prize helps to get folks in a room (&fun incentive) but primary incentive is desire to solve/build with likeminded hackers #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Good mentors also make a big difference at a Hackathon #AskMIT @mattncollins

Question 8 - @Enterprise100

What resources do I need to run a Hackathon?

@GeorgieMIT: A team that is willing to GSD (Get Stuff Done), small prize $$, good location, and most importantly hackers who are excited to hack *get "stuff" done #AskMIT

@Enterprise100: Thank you! Passion and drive of participants working towards collectively/ creative problem solving , do you think a pre-hack session helps?

@GeorgieMIT: I would just jump straight in! #AskMIT then you can iterate faster

Question 9 - @susieapattison

Are Hackathons only about tech innovation? How can you apply them to other sectors?

@GeorgieMIT: Here is an interesting one for you: #breakingthemold #MD5emergencyresponse

https://innovation.mit.edu/event/md5-hacking-emergency-response/ #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Often tech but not always. Outputs are always innovative-new/novel solutions. Can help all kinds of sectors #health #education #policy

Question 10 - @BeTheSpark on behalf of @PembsCollege

Where does Intellectual Property rest in a Hackathon debate?

@GeorgieMIT: Hackathons = great forum to help #scientists #engineers with IP/ protected tech find use cases @PembsCollege @BeTheSpark #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Also, once you’ve got a working prototype, don’t forget design for prototyping is very different from design for manufacture #AskMIT

@GeorgieMIT: Hackathons can help IP find a path to commercialization & impact #team #whoisyourcustomer?#whatcanyoudoforyourcustomer? #AskMIT @PembsCollege

@GeorgieMIT: BTW @PembsCollege LOVE Pembrokeshire! Best place on earth, Spent lots of time there growing up.

@GeorgieMIT: Fun fact–The term Hacker originates from 17th Cen “lusty labouror”–who harvested fields by dogged & rough swings of his hoe #AskMIT @BeTheSpark