For the last five years I was getting more and more anxious the closer it was till the end of the year. Why so? The answer is very simple – the SANS Hack Challenge (https://holidayhackchallenge.com/2020/index.html) run online by Counter Hack Team (https://www.counterhack.com/expert-pen-testers). I have learnt plenty and had an immeasurable amount of fun while solving hacking challenges. This winter I found myself helping others with their tasks by giving hints and I discovered that I have learnt even more. The best part was seeing others to grow and to learn how to beat the tasks.
Unfortunately, SANS hack challenge is only once a year and I didn’t always managed to find enough spare time to solve all the puzzles. Luckily, there is a way to fix that.
So, this year to celebrate 12th birthday of Tog, there will be a pleasant surprise. A walk through a past SANS Holiday Challenges. We will start on the 23rd of January, all info will be posted online. So, keep an eye on our website and reserve time between 5 pm and 7 pm on the day to join the discussion on a dedicated Discord channel https://discord.gg/322Kw4bkQK.
We are delighted to be taking part in Science Week now in its 25th year. We always like to take part in these national weeks to promote science and education. We have lined up of talks for you on Thursday the 12th of November from 7 pm streaming on our Youtube channel. This year we are teaming up with the Young Engineers Society to bring you a night of interesting lightning talks.
Project Title: Tell me more about the fungus under the kitchen table… Project Description: After seeing an ad on twitter for a box of grow your own oyster mushrooms, Tríona is now the proud owner of a box of oyster mushrooms. Not liking mushrooms, she thought growing mushrooms would be the most interesting part of the project, but then Jeffrey asked her to talk about them for Science Week… Speaker: Dr. Tríona O’Connell. Twitter.
Project Title: DIY Solar Install Project Description: In an effort to make an office unit more environmentally friendly Christian will detail his DIY Solar Install. This 4.7 KW install faced a number of challenges refitting an ageing office unit, setting up a power management system while all on a budget. Speaker: Christian Kortenhorst. Twitter.
Project Title: IoT Weather Station Project Description: Weather is the most talked about topic. This project aims for these chats to be more informed by having very localized weather data. This DIY IoT weather station talk will go over how to install your very own weather station and share your local data. Speaker: Jeffrey Roe. Twitter.
There are lots of Science Week events happening all over the country you can find more of them listed here -> https://www.sfi.ie/events/
We want to give you all something to look forward to on these dark evenings. We are hosting a project showcase live stream on Thursday the 15th of October from 7 pm. Tune into our Youtube channel to see makers showcase their projects in short 10-minute talks followed by a live Q&A. Check out the projects below.
Project Title: Portable Soldering Station Project Description: Portable Soldering Station made from a British Army 120mm Tank shell Can. Speaker: Nathan Wheeler. InstagramYouTube, Twitter.
Project Title: DIY solar home heater Project Description: This project is the build and install of a solar thermal (hot air) collector. The hot air is passed through an air-to-water heat exchanger and the heated water is pumped through existing underfloor water pipes for home heating. The build was done at TOG and the completed project was taken home for install. Speaker: Gary Cooke
Project Title: Self Driving Car (Deep Q-Learning) Project Description: In a udemy course called Artificial Intelligence A-Z by Super Data Science that I’m doing I was thought how to make a self driving car using a branch of a.i called reinforcement learning. This coupled with an artificial neural network model I was able to do Deep Q-Learning and train a car to drive on a virtual road. Q-Learning can be useful for when you want a.i to play video games and find the most efficient way to win the game. Speaker: Rob O’Sullivan. Linkedin. Github
Project Title: Coffee Table Project Description: Coffee table with welded hairpin legs and scrap 2×4. Speaker: Niamh O Connor
Project Title: 3D printed egg cup Project Description: First test to use the onshape modelling software and Prusa 3 printer (how to process) Speaker: Patrick Devine – YouTube
Project Title: Tachyonic Antitelephone Project Description: The Tachyonic Antitelephone is a theoretical device from physics’ history, a thought experiment realised. What if our future self could send back messages in time, telling us what our life could be, warning us of impending danger, or simply steering us away from mistakes and regrets. The Tachyonic Antitelephone opens up questions of free will, choice, fate and pre-destination. Can we change who we were, or who we may become? Do we really have the power to shift our own narratives?
This work was produced for the Hack Circus Time Travel Live event in London in 2013, and was shown in the Freedman Gallery, Allbright College, Pennsylvania as part of Mediated Realities.
Back in 2014 Christian Kortenhorst laser cut a Tog sign and put some awesome LED’s in it. Check out the build video on our youtube channel. We have used the sign over the years in our spaces and taken to so many events. Unfortunately, it has taken a bit of a bashing over the years with the front panel coming loose. Plugging in the wrong power supply final saw it die.
A few weeks ago our space as packed for the annual Science Hack Day Dublin. A load of great projects were built over the weekend. Check out the video of the presentations.
