1. Space apps and other
hacks
Met Office Hackathons and what we’ve learnt from them
Michael Saunby. 6 September 2013

2. Stop me and ask questions
• Hackathons and hack-days
• International Space Apps challenge
• Hosting a hackathon – why and how
• Attending a hackathon – who and why
• Future events

3. Hackathons and hack-days
• A hackathon or hack-day “is an event in
which computer programmers and
others involved in software
development, including graphic
designers, interface designers and
project managers, collaborate
intensively on software projects” -
wikipedia
• UK organisers typically use hackathon
to mean a weekend event, often with
prizes and hack-day to refer to a week-
day event where coders and makers
experiment.

4. International Space Apps
Challenge
• A well coordinated collection of
independent events with a carefully
selected challenges.
• Uses the Random Hacks of Kindness
model – experts identify challenges. Why
does this matter?
• No big prizes, lots of fun.
• Less media attention than you’d think.

5. International Space Apps
Challenge
“On 20-21 April 2013, over 9,000 people
around the world participated in one of the
galaxy's largest mass collaborations ever -
the International Space Apps Challenge.”
http://spaceappschallenge.org/
The Met Office was the European lead event
for 2012 and 2013. We are almost sure to
host again in 2014, probably at two sites.

6. Hosting a hackathon
• Remove “friction”. Default answer “yes”.
• Those parts of the building used for the
event should be available for the exclusive
use of the participants.
• Preparing for a hackathon can be done by
mutual agreement and should not cause
excessive disruption to normal work.
• “Build it and they will come” – untrue
• Use social media
• Registration – Eventbrite

7. • Learn, and help others learn
• Enjoy, and help others enjoy
• Bring your laptop, etc.
• Don’t work alone – esp. if in a team
• (for organisers) – teams of 4 or 5 work best
• Non coding skills matter – gathering info,
writing, model making, story telling...
Attending a hackathon

8. Future events
The next two Met Office events are away from
home.
• Geohack – www.geohack.org Nottingham 16/17
September.
• Climate Change and Fashion Hackathon. V&A,
London. 21/22 September.
For 2014.
• Jan/Feb – Met Office. Theme TBD.
• April 2014. International Space Apps
Challenge. Probably Exeter and London.

9. Past events

10. Any questions?