Space Apps Event Planning Kit

Event Planning Kit

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This event planning guide has been developed for those
interested in planning an International Space Apps Challenge
event in their city.
Purpose
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The International Space Apps Challenge is an international hackathon
that will take place over a 48 hour period in cities around the globe
between April 29th and 30th, 2017.
The event embraces collaborative problem solving with a goal of
producing open-source solutions to global challenges.
http://spaceappschallenge.org
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About

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Hackathons are technology development marathons that draw on the
talents and initiative of bright minded volunteers – developers,
engineers, technologists, designers, and anyone with a passion and
desire to have an immediate impact on the world. They are open to
anyone who has a passion for making a difference and are focused on
developing real solutions to global challenges by the end of the event.
This hackathon is part of a larger process of defining challenge
statements, intensively working to prototype solutions over the course
of the Space Apps weekend, and subsequently refining and
implementing the most promising prototypes.
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What is a Hackathon?

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The first International Space
Apps Challenge was held in
April 2012 in 25 cities around
the world. The event brought
together over 2,000
participants together to
address 71 challenges
focused on improving life in
space and on Earth! More
than 100 unique
open-source solutions were
developed in less then 48
hours.
To view the results visit
http://2012.spaceappschalle
nge.org/
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History
2012 2013 2014 2015
The second International
Space Apps Challenge was
held in April 2013 in 83 cities
in 44 countries around the
world and involved over
9,000 participants.
Together, in only 48 hours,
they created 770 prototypes
space and on Earth!
nge.org/
The third International Space
Apps Challenge was held in
April 2014 in 95 cities in 47
countries around the world
(including 44 first-time
Space Apps locations) and
involved 8,200 participants.
They created 671 prototypes
space and on Earth!
nge.org/
The fourth International
Space Apps Challenge
was held in 133 cities and
involved over 13,000
participants. With a focus
on Women in Data, there
was active participation
from women globally in
hosting and hacking. 949
prototypes were created
at the event. Some sites
have gone on to pioneer
space-tech incubation
efforts following the event
with the Space Apps
Project Accelerator.
https://2015.spaceappsc
hallenge.org/
2016
The fifth International
Space Apps Challenge
was held in 161 cities
and involved over 16,000
participants. 1,300
prototypes were created
at the event. Space Apps
2016 also included 54
sites who hosted local
Data Bootcamps for their
communities to prepare
those less familiar with
the hackathon format
https://2016.spaceappsc
hallenge.org/

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The International Space Apps Challenge was such a success in its early
years that it has now become an annual event. Our vision is that the
International Space Apps Challenge will continue to grow and give
people everywhere an unprecedented opportunity to use NASA data to
develop meaningful solutions to help to address critical needs
applicable to both life in space and on Earth, and that it becomes a
global community of individuals excited about collaborating to advance
the frontiers of space science and technology.
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Vision

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The only true requirement for planning an event is a passion to make a
difference and get involved. If that is you, we’d love to talk! The rest of
this event planning guide provides practical advice that you can use to
make your event a success.
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Get Involved!

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Do you have what it takes to host a successful International Space Apps Challenge event?
To get started, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do I have enough time to run this event? *
2. Who else do I need to volunteer to help with event logistics?
3. Are there any organizations or sponsors I can partner with to help make the event possible?
4. Do I have (or can I find) a venue available for the 48 hours of the event? (And does it have
enough internet bandwidth available at the event for all participants?)
5. What other logistical elements will be important to the participants at my event? (access to
transport, access to food options, etc…)
6. How will I reach out to the right people to participate in the event?
* Participating as a local lead can require a significant time investment. We estimate that you will spend
at least 10hrs/wk planning for the event with more time the weeks immediately prior. This might be
less with a strong volunteer team.
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Hosting a Successful Event

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Registration

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Anyone interested in planning an event must fill out an application to get started.
Planning a Space Apps event takes quite a bit of time, so the sooner you get started the
stronger your event will be! You can fill out an application at the link below:
Once your location is approved, you can get started with your planning. In early 2017
a website for the 2017 event will be created, including a page for your location where you
can add information about your local event.* We recommend distributing the link for your
location in all of your outreach and PR materials to encourage participants to sign up for
your location.
*Note: Some organizers like to create independent websites for their own Space Apps events to add more information and
be able to better showcase their sponsors. You are most welcome to do that, however all participant registration for the
event must go through spaceappschallenge.org.
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Local Lead Registration

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Registration will be available on http://spaceappschallenge.org prior to the event and
all individuals who are attending will need to register online.
You will need to identify on your local page how many people your event can
accommodate. Some events have only 20 participants, others have 400+, it varies from
one site to another and it is up to you to choose the size of your event. Our experience
suggests that 50 – 60% of people who RSVP will actually attend, and some will appear
the day of the Challenge who have not signed up. This may vary per event. You are
welcome to register additional people on the spot if you believe you will have the capacity
to accommodate them. If you expect to be over capacity, you may want to give priority to
those who signed up in advance. Due to NASA regulations, Space Apps events are not
permitted to charge participants for attendance.
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Participant Registration

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You may want to consider setting up a registration desk at the entrance to the room
and having someone available to:
− Register anyone who attends the day of the event but has not pre-registered
− Direct attendees to check in if they have RSVP'd by checking their name on a list.
− Give out the name tag stickers/have attendees fill them out.
− Direct the attendees to where they can sit/put their stuff, etc.
− Answer any questions they may have.
− Provide a computer (with Internet) so attendees can register if they haven’t RSVP’d.
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Participant Registration, continued

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Venue

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Your choice of venue is critical to the success of your event. Consider the location, the atmosphere,
and the proximity to public transportation and local restaurants. Some good venue options include
community centers, conference centers/rooms, and university campuses. The best venues…
− Are available all day Saturday and all day Sunday (Or Friday/Saturday, if that is your weekend.)
− Have capacity for holding all attendees in one large room for briefings, presentations, and
awards ceremonies
− Allow for 24 hour access so participants can work overnight on Saturday, if they want
− Have smaller breakout rooms or areas where groups can work together
− Are easily accessible via public transportation (if available in your location)
− Allow for reasonable access to building (no high security buildings)
− Allow participants to bring in food
− Have tables and chairs for small group gathering and brainstorming
− Have bathrooms available
− Have a place to throw out garbage (an outside dumpster)
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Venue

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Internet connectivity is a basic requirement for hackathons. The better
connectivity, the better your event will be. Improve the experience for your
participants by:
− Access to electricity/plugs for all the attendees
− Bandwidth sufficient for all attendees to actively use the Internet simultaneously
− Plenty of IP addresses available for your attendees (e.g., you should consider how
many to make available for each attendee as many attendees may bring 2-3 devices)
− Wi-Fi availability (and the need for any passwords)
− Capacity for video/web streaming
− Capacity for live online connection with other International Space Apps Challenge
sites
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Connectivity Guidelines

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Let your attendees know to bring their own laptops if they have them. We recommend you also
consider having spare supplies available where possible. For example, you may want to consider
having:
− Power strips
− Extension cords
− Projector/Screen (or blank wall)
− Microphone/Podium
− USB drives
− Tables/chairs (if not provided at venue)
− Name tag stickers
− Laptop/printer (for registration and other general purposes)
− Office supplies: Pens, pencils, highlighters, stapler, paper
− Whiteboard/Blackboard/Large Paper
− Dry erase pens/chalk/markers
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Supplies

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Communication
& Outreach

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Beginning in early 2017, the Space Apps Global Organizing Team will
coordinate global calls with Leads from around the world in the lead up to
Space Apps. We will share information, provide the status of locations, answer
questions, and connect you with others.
You will receive information on how to participate in the calls after you register
your event online.
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Pre-Event Coordination

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Remember that the International Space Apps Challenge is looking for more than just coders and
developers! Seek out anyone passionate about space exploration and social need to support the event.
Consider marketing the event via some of the following channels:
− Go meet with people! Attend tech and non-tech meetups.
− Post on mailing lists with a technical audience at least 4 weeks before the event .
− Post on local university mailing lists.
− Blog about it on your own and other technical blogs.
− Post on event planning sites.
− Tweet about it on Twitter – hashtag #spaceapps.
− Personally invite your friends that you think will have a great time.
− Help people market the event to their friends. Tell them what to tell their friends. Encourage
people to "own" the event, they should understand what it is, and be able to encourage their
friends to come. Make the time and place very clear.
Use resources available at www.spaceappschallenge.org a starting point.
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Outreach to Participants

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Each host is responsible for their own partner outreach efforts. You may want to
consider inviting local organizations to be a part of the International Space Apps
Challenge.
You could also think about reaching out to software and technology companies,
telecommunications companies, NGOs, civil society organizations, government
offices, universities, etc.
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Outreach to Partners

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Each event lead is also responsible for arranging needed personnel. Think about
who you will need to run the event itself such as:
− Registration support
− People to help manage logistics like food and trash
− Clean-up after the event
− People available to answer questions
Remember that these are just suggestions. Consider the appropriate number of
volunteers for your event.
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Outreach to Volunteers

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Here are some suggestions about managing media outreach for the event.
Press Releases
Sample press releases will be circulated to local lead teams at least four weeks before the Challenge. You may share
those press releases with your local media outlets (press, TV, and online media) and invite them to cover the event. You
may need to translate the press release into your local language.
Websites
Link to the International Space Apps Challenge from your website.
Blogging/Tweeting
Reach out to local, national, and international tech blogs that you read and ask them to post about the Challenge.
Include a link to the website and registration page.
Post on your own organization’s blog and Twitter stream about the Challenge, and ask your local partners to do the
same. Include a link to the website/registration page http://spaceappschallenge.org. The official twitter account is
@spaceapps. For all tweets use #spaceapps.
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Outreach to Media

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Here are some suggestions about managing social media engagement for the event.
Use of Social Media
In addition to using blog posts and Twitter as a platform to spread the word about the International Space
Apps Challenge, you may choose to engage in conversation using social media as much as possible regarding
your event. Two-way dialogue is an effective and rewarding method of engaging participants and the
interested public alike, and its prolific use will make the International Space Apps Challenge a richer experience
worldwide.
Twitter
As mentioned, the #spaceapps hashtag is the convention for the worldwide event, but you may consider using
#spaceapps_[location] as a standard in order to communicate logistical updates that only apply to your
location (e.g., bagels and coffee just arrived on the first floor! #spaceapps_sf). We recommend including this
secondary hashtag in all local electronic communications and printed material.
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Social Media

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Challenges, Solutions
& Winner Awards

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Challenge statements will be posted on spaceappschallenge.org prior to the
event. Challenges are typically posted one month before the Space Apps event.
Many Space Apps cities host an informal pre-event meet-up where participants
are invited to get together to brainstorm about the challenges and start forming
their teams. You are welcome to invite local experts and scientists to speak to
your participants about the challenge themes and inspire them in their
brainstorming.
It’s not just about smart phone applications! During the International Space
Apps Challenge teams will utilize publicly available data to design all kinds of
innovative solutions.
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Challenges

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During the event, participants will organize into projects focused on solving a
specific, issued challenge. Any project including at least one participant makes
that project eligible for awards at that participant's location.
In order for a project to receive an award or be eligible for global judging, it must
be submitted to the Space Apps Challenge website via a project page.
Additionally, projects must include links to the original resources, such as a
source code repository or hardware schematic. Solutions will only be accepted
for judging if they are licensed under an Open Source License as determined by
the Open Source Initiative: http://opensource.org/licenses/alphabetical
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Solutions

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Local event leads may provide judging and awards for your location. Leads
may consider awarding awards at your location for best solutions on a specific
challenge, most creative solution, most social impact etc. It’s up to you!
Local leads will be able to nominate two teams / solutions for consideration in
the global judging process. The global judging process will be managed by
NASA. Global awards will be announced two to three weeks after the event.
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Awards

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Agenda & Timeline

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Day 1
9:00 a.m. Registration
10:00 a.m. Schedule and logistics announcements
10:30 a.m. Subject Matter Expert briefing
11:00 a.m. Begin developing
12:30 p.m. Lunch break
1:30 p.m. Developing continued
4:30 p.m. Optional progress briefing, more
developing
6:30 p.m. Dinner break
8:00 p.m. More developing
Day 2
10:00 a.m. Logistics briefing &
updates
10:15 a.m. Begin developing
12:00 p.m. Submission Deadline
12:00 p.m. Lunch break
1:30 p.m. Presentations
3:00 p.m. Judges Voting
3:30 p.m. Awards
4:00 p.m. Post event social
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Sample Event Agenda

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Five to Eight Weeks until the International Space Apps Challenge
❑ Ensure your location page is completely up to date with all relevant information for your
participants
❑ Confirm your venue and that there is appropriate capacity and bandwidth. We’ll be checking
in with each venue to confirm registration limits and other details.
❑ Begin outreach to developers to encourage registration and attendance.
❑ Post on your organization’s blog about your involvement in the Challenge and link to the
http://spaceappschallenge.org website and registration.
❑ Reach out to local tech bloggers and ask them to post about the Challenge.
❑ Reach out to local subject matter experts about potentially attending the event to advise on
any of the posted Challenges or on other projects your location wishes to work on.
❑ Think about any security requirements at your host location (e.g., need for ID to get in).
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Timeline

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Four Weeks until the International Space Apps Challenge
❑ Begin mainstream PR—send press releases to local media. Extend invitations to reception
for press, where appropriate.
❑ Secure a local organizing team member, developer or subject matter expert to act as the
emcee for the event.
❑ Challenges are published one month before the event. Consider hosting a pre-event
meet-up for participants to form teams and brainstorm about challenges.
Three Weeks until the International Space Apps Challenge
❑ Invite your judges to participate and distribute judging criteria (to be determined locally).
❑ Decide on awards for local winning teams (if you plan to offer any—it’s entirely up to you).
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Timeline, continued

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Two Weeks until the International Space Apps Challenge
❑ Confirm necessary A/V support.
❑ Confirm any VIP speakers or mentors that you plan to have attending, as well as any local
scientists or experts who might be present to speak about the challenges.
One Week until the International Space Apps Challenge
❑ Send out a confirmation email to all those registered for your location with start and end
time of Challenge, location address, any security information and reception details (if
applicable).
❑ Confirm bandwidth availability (sufficient IP addresses, passwords, access points, etc.).
❑ Purchase any additional items needed (markers, paper, power strips, name tags, etc.).
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Timeline, continued

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One Day until the International Space Apps Challenge
❑ Download registration spreadsheet to use at check in.
❑ Confirm that space and A/V equipment have been properly set-up.
❑ Put up signage in appropriate locations.
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Timeline, continued

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Event Documentation

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Share your event social media channels so we can follow you on Twitter, Tumblr,
Facebook, Instagram and any other relevant platform!
Twitter: Encourage participants and partners to tweet about their involvement using
#spaceapps.
Blogging: If you blog about the event please e-mail your blogs to
[email protected] so we can amplify them. Blog topics could include:
1. Before the event: How is your planning going? What are the details? Do you
have any special guests? Provide any/all of this detail!
2. During the event: We’d love status updates! How are the projects coming? Did
you have any great moments?
Encourage participants and partners to blog about their involvement in the Challenge. Let
them know that we will look to share them!
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Event Documentation

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Final Report: A final report documenting the results of the event will be written by NASA
and SecondMuse.
Survey: Each local lead will be asked to fill out a survey after the event to let us know how
the event went, what the results were, who were the winners and what lessons you
learned that you’d like to pass on to future organizers. This will be your chance to pass on
anything you have learned or want to communicate. We take this feedback very seriously
and every year try to implement whatever we can to improve the process for organizers,
so your candid feedback is very valuable!
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Post-Event Documentation

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Many Space Apps communities are interested in building ways to grow, incubate and
accelerate high potential projects coming out of the International Space Apps Challenge.
During 2015, NASA developed a Space Apps Acceleration Toolkit for any Space Apps
organizers or community members interested in taking projects built at Space Apps to the
next level of development.
If you, or others in your local community, are interested in supporting projects emerging
from Space Apps, check out the Toolkit and get in touch with
[email protected] for further information.
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Supporting Projects After Space
Apps

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We realize that the success of the International Space Apps
Challenge is completely dependent on the passion and
involvement of local leads like yourself. Thank you so much for
your commitment and participation!
Thank You!
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Contact Information
Blake Garcia
SecondMuse
[email protected]
Shobhana Gupta
NASA Earth Science Division
Website
http://spaceappschallenge.org
Twitter
@spaceapps
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Space Apps Event Planning Kit

Space Apps Event Planning Kit

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