CERN Summer Student Webfest: a weekend for science and creativity | 29 - 31 July 2016

Are you passionate about science? Do you like communicating that passion to the general public? Then come along to the CERN Summer Student Webfest on the weekend of 29-31 July! It is a grassroots initiative, open to all, that aims to spark new ideas that could innovate the future of web-based education about CERN, the LHC, particle physics, humanitarian matters and health.

 

The CERN Summer Student Webfest is a weekend of online web-based creativity modelled on the gatherings (sometimes called hackfests or hackathons) that energize many open-source communities. Participants will work in teams and design neat applications that encourage the public to learn more about science. The projects can range from designing online games for kids to crafting citizen science projects and developing low-cost mobile-phone-based cosmic ray detectors. You do not have to be a software or hardware expert to contribute: many types of skill sets are needed to develop a fun project, from writing and designing to physics and engineering.
 

So, come along for the weekend and create, innovate
and educate about science on the web!
 

Kick-off!
Project ideas will be presented at a kick-off event on Friday 29 July, from 4.00 p.m. to 6 p.m at IdeaSquare (building 3179). Teams will self-assemble around the most exciting pitches. Anyone can pitch a project. However, participants are encouraged to submit their project ideas to the Webfest website (make sure you sign in to access the page) for the best chance to form a well-defined team. 

Will there be prizes?
A Grand Prize will be awarded for the best project: a free trip to the Mozilla Festival in London from 28 to 30 October. Other goodies will be distributed to all participants.

Where will we work on our ideas?
Teams will work on their Webfest project primarily in CERN’s Restaurant No. 1. As the location is an open-space environment, there will be plenty of opportunity for interaction between participants and various technical experts taking part in the event. CERN openlab is supporting meal tickets for participants.

How will the event end?
The event will wrap up on Sunday 31 of July at 4.00 p.m. in the main auditorium with a judging panel reviewing the results and awarding the Grand Prize. 

Many thanks to our sponsors...
The event is organised by CERN openlab and a team of volunteers. Our event partners also include Citizen Cyberscience Centre, crowdAI, Citizen Cyberlab project, and the Mozilla Foundation.