UCSD SMASH & NSF HDR ML Challenge Hackathon

11 Jan 2025, 09:00 → 12 Jan 2025, 16:00 US/Pacific

1301 (Franklin Antonio Hall)

Join us for the NSF HDR  and UCSD SMASH  Hackathon! This hackathon is based on the NSF HDR ML Challenge where participants are tasked with using ML to find anomalies in their choice of three datasets: gravitational wave detection, hybrid species discovery, or climate event identification. The goal of the hackathon is to work with teams and expert consultants to complete a submission for one of these challenges. It is a great opportunity to refine your data science skills, network with scientists, and have fun! Lunch will be provided. There will be prizes and certificates awarded for best submissions. All experience levels are welcome!

The hackathon is organized in collaboration between UCSD's Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, UCSD's Department of Physics, UCSD's Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, and The San Diego Supercomputer Center through UCSD's new "SMASH" initiative. More information can be found here. 

This event will take place the weekend of January 11-12. After a brief introduction and tutorial session teams of 1-4 people will be assigned to the dataset of their choice. Expert scientists and programmers will be available to consult and aid teams for the duration of the event. Teams will present their progress at the closing of the event on Sunday afternoon. Final submissions are due Thursday January 16.

In-person participation in as much of the hackathon as possible is highly recommended. Registration for the event is free. 

The hackathon will take place on campus, in Franklin Antonio Hall Room 1301.

We are looking for volunteers to serve as experts to help teams with their projects. Please indicate if you would like to be a volunteer on the registration form or by contacting the event coordinators.

Due to high demand, registration is now closed. If you would still like to participate in the event, please email mquinnan@ucsd.edu directly and include your name, position (undergrad/grad/etc) department, and project/team preferences. We will do our best to accommodate you but participation is not guaranteed.

 If you are no longer intending or able to participate, please notify us so we can accomodate other people!

 

Saturday 11 January

09:00 Registration & Coffee

Introduction Session: Welcome & Orientation

1 Welcome Remarks

Speaker: Melissa Quinnan (Univ. of California San Diego (US))

hackathon_welcome.pdf

2 Project Introduction: Gravitational Wave Detection

Speaker: Philip Coleman Harris (Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (US))

Gravitational Wave

Gravitational Wave

3 Project Introduction: Hybrid Species Discovery

Speaker: Wei-Lun Chao (Ohio State University)

4 Project Introduction: Climate Event Identification

Speaker: Prof. Aneesh Subramanian (University of Colorado Boulder)

10:15 Coffee Break

5 Hands-on Tutorial: Practice notebook & submission

Speakers: Elham Khoda (University of Washington (US)), Melissa Quinnan (Univ. of California San Diego (US))

NRP_jupyterhub

NRP_jupyterhub

6 Team Formation & Start

Teams find each other and pick their challenges

13:00 Lunch

Hacking Time!: Day 1

Teams gather together to work on their challenge submissions, with experts nearby to consult

7 Hacking Time!

8 Day 1 Expert Consultation Wrap-Up

Expert volunteers make their final rounds helping teams for the day

9 Nighttime Self-Organized Hacking Time

Teams may wish to continue working on their challenges.

Sunday 12 January

09:00 Day 2 Start & Coffee

10 Day 2 Welcome Remarks

Hacking Time!: Day 2

Teams gather together to work on their challenge submissions, with experts nearby to consult

11 Morning Expert Consultation

Expert volunteers make their rounds to check in with the teams progress

12 Hacking Home Stretch!

13:00 Provided Lunch: Pizza Party!

13 Prize Announcement & Team Presentations.

Winning teams present their projects

14 Closing Remarks