SprintX is about existential risks to human civilisation. You are here to contribute, in some small way, to better understanding X-risk and making sure that humanity survives this century. No pressure.
Many researchers in the area think that there is a >10% chance of civilisation collapsing this century. For example, Toby Ord from Oxford estimates the odds are 1 in 6, but this number is obviously very inexact. This seems like the type of thing that someone should be working on. This weekend, that someone will be you.
In addition to being important, we think working on these big topics is a fun and engaging challenge. If you’ve ever been annoyed by having to think small and specific, for example in your courses, now is your chance to think big.
Saturday:
10:00AM - 10:30AM: We will start with socialising and an introductory talk.
10:30-13:00: You will choose and plan your project and start working! There will be (optional) check-ins from organizers if you need support.
13:00-14:00: Lunch!
14:00-18:30: More time to work, and do research.
18:30-19:30: Dinner!
19:30-2:00AM: This time is yours. We'll leave the office open until 2AM.
Sunday:
6:00AM: We'll open the Office back up if you'd like to get an early start and have some light breakfast.
6:00-9:30: Co-working on your project with your team, finalising projects for submission.
9:30-10AM: Time to submit and briefly present your minimum viable product!
Requirements
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SprintX begins at 10AM on Saturday, November 18th and ends 10AM on Sunday, November 19th.
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We’re located in Meridian Office
53, 54 Sidney Street
Cambridge, CB2 3HX
(in between the Real Eating Co. and Town & Gown)
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Meridian Office will be open for the entire time (with the exception of the hours 2AM - 6AM) and you can come and go as you like. You should have your final deliverable completed no later than 9:30AM on Sunday.
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You only have 24 hours total to work (and we hope you’ll also eat and sleep!). By 9:30 on Sunday, November 19th, you should have a project summary prepared (roughly 300 words) and one piece of presentation-oriented work. This can be anything that you think captures the gist of your project. For example:
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a poster
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one clearly-labelled graph, or a few graphs together
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a picture of bullet-point text with your main conclusions
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a diagram
We do not expect polished summaries or presentations. These will be used for judging and presentation purposes.
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Presentations will begin at 9:30AM. Presentations should be 5 minutes or less in which key project questions, ideas, and conclusions are presented. If you cannot be present at this time on Sunday, please let us know and we will make alternative arrangements.
Prizes
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
Henderson Prize
The project possesses a thoughtfully crafted theory of change, acknowledging potential flaws and uncertainties, and holds realistic prospects of effectiveness and potential for significant positive impact in the real world.
Lovelace Prize
The project stands out for its creativity, innovation, and distinctiveness from existing theories or initiatives.
Curie Prize
The team has demonstrated a high level of technical competence, showcasing expertise in areas such as programming, engineering, statistics/data science, mathematics, etc., reflecting both technical skill and quality of execution.
Franklin Prize
The team exhibits proficiency and knowledge in non-technical domains such as entrepreneurship, governance, policy, business, or media, indicating a high level of non-technical skill and execution quality.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Olivia Benoit
Theo Horsley
Judging Criteria
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See participant guide for details
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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