Introduction:

ERC Stochastic transport in upper ocean dynamics (STUOD) is hosting 3-day Hackathon on Monday, 29th March – Wednesday, 31st March 2021. Due to the pandemic, the Hackathon format has migrated into a virtual form.

 Aims and Objectives:

The aim of this event is to create a virtual environment for researchers to:

• deliver mathematical based problem solving on challenges coming from STUOD,
• collaborate on topics of importance and network with peers and colleagues.

Format:

The participants will receive information packs that describe their assigned challenge a week prior to the event and will need to familiarize themselves with their task. On the first day of the hackathon, they will attend a short briefing followed by a Q&A session. The delegates will then break into preassigned teams (with a nominated academic leader to facilitate their work). Over the next three days they will work on their challenge together with their team. The work will involve coding, modelling, sketching solutions, preparing a final report and giving a presentation on the final day of the hackathon. The hackathon will conclude with a presentation mini-session where the teams will feedback on the progress made, with written reports on potential solutions to be provided shortly after.

Challenges:

Examples of challenges that Hackathon participants will look at how the mathematical sciences can provide support in are:

Challenges 1+2+3: Machine learning with weather and climate data

Challenge 4: Data assimilation with nudging applied to SQG (access to MATLAB required)

Challenge 5: Numerical experimentation for Stochastic Models for SQG (access to MATLAB required)

Prizes:

The winning team will receive £100 Amazon vouchers for each team member. Runners-up will receive £50 Amazon vouchers for each team member.

Everyone taking part will receive a LinkedIn endorsement from STUOD. 

Programme: 

The Programme is being developed and further details will be available shortly, but we anticipate that the event will run from 09.30 – 17.15 each day.

Day One: Monday, 29th March 2021

09:30 – 09:45 Hackham Introduction and Welcome

09:45 – 10:15 Challenges Introduction

10:15 – 10:30 Breakout Group Formation

10:15 – 12:00 Group Work

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch film presentation (Optional to attend)

Film presentation: “The future of glaciers”. Film is part of: Mathematics of Planet Earth

13:00 – 17:00 Group Work

17:00 – 17:15 All Delegate Catch-up

Day Two: Tuesday, 30th March 2021

09:30 – 09:45  Day Two Kick-off

09:45 – 12:00  Group Work

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch presentation (Optional to attend)

Demo on GlobCurrent by Lucile Gaultier (OceanDataLab)
OceanDataLab is a private research laboratory that was established in 2013 by long time Ocean Remote Sensing and IT experts working in close collaboration with the Space Oceanography Laboratory at IFREMER

14:00 – 17:00  Group Work

17:00 – 17:15  All Delegate Catch-up

Day Three – Wednesday, 31st March 2021

09:30 – 09:45  Day Three Kick-off

09:45 – 12:00  Group Work

12:00 – 13:00  Lunch

12:00 – 16:00 Final pitches 

16:00 – 16:45 General Judging process

16:45 – 17:00 General Winner Announcement & Closing Remarks

The virtual breakout rooms will remain open throughout the duration of the event. A special breakout room where delegates can call for help will be also available.

How to Take Part:

Places are limited and will be allocated balancing a first-come-first-served basis and on specific capabilities. Registration details will be sent to confirmed delegates.

If you:

(a) would like to take part, please submit an expression of interest by completing this form specifying the capabilities you might wish to bring to the challenges as well as preferences regarding the challenges you would like to brainstorm with the group (maximum of 1 challenge). Deadline for completing the form is 19th March 2021. We will then confirm attendance as soon as we can.

(b) have a question you would like ask of the challenges in advance, please do contact a.radomska@imperial.ac.uk