💻🔬 Science Focused Hackathon on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Dr Bharat Harbham

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Erin Magennis, BA (Neuroscientist)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

7

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Host a two-day DeSci Hackathon on Cardano with a focus on scientific applications

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

N/A

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

All projects and their code will be public

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

This Hackathons mission is to drive innovation within the Cardano community by focusing on the intersection of blockchain and science.

We will host a Hackathon focused exclusively on scientific applications.

This two-day hackathon will be held in a city with DeSci and Cardano ecosystem ties established with the goal of leveraging and then advanging these communities. It will allow for in person as well as virtual participation. 

The hackathon aims to engage with developers; it will be structured so devs with no science experience can easily contribute. Scientists will be able to engage before the event to present ideas or be part of project teams to guide the creation of useful solutions developed.

This event aims to build decentralised science applications on Cardano, enhancing both the blockchain's capabilities and its scientific applications.

Who Will Benefit

• Developers: Gain hands-on experience building scientific applications on Cardano.
• Scientists: Access to blockchain technology to enhance their research and applications.
• Cardano Community: Strengthened by innovative projects that expand the blockchain’s capabilities.

Demonstrating Impact

• Hackathon Success: A successful two-day event with tangible projects developed on the Cardano platform.
• Long Term Goal: Foster a community of developers and scientists actively using Cardano for innovative scientific solutions and continue supporting hackathon projects through the MuseMatrix program

Strategy

• Engage with a Major Event: Aligning our hackathon with a major Cardano event will boost participation and visibility.
• Hybrid Participation Model: Ensures wider reach by accommodating remote and in-person participants.
• Prizes and Incentives: Attractive prizes will motivate high-quality project submissions and attract talent from the developer and scientific communities.

We will seek community input on the location. Ideally, it should coincide with an upcoming Cardano event to maximize in-person attendance. 

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community

• Increased Cardano Usage: Our hackathon projects will showcase Cardano’s ability to support innovative scientific applications, driving more usage of the blockchain.

• Innovation in Science: By focusing on scientific tools, we’ll encourage the creation of new, collaborative, and efficient research applications, promoting open science.

• Community Growth: The event will attract new developers and scientists, bring fresh ideas, and boost the diversity and creativity of the Cardano community.

Measuring Impact

• Quantitative:
• Number of participants and projects.
• Increased Cardano transactions and smart contracts.
• Participant surveys on their experience.

• Qualitative:
• Feedback from participants.
• Success stories of projects developed.
• Social media engagement and discussions.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities

• Event Summary: We’ll publish summaries and reports on social media, Telegram, and the website and share them on Cardano platforms. This will highlight key projects and insights.

• Community Engagement: Regular updates through forums, social media, and newsletters to keep everyone informed and involved.

• Showcasing Projects: Successful projects will be featured on blogs, videos, and social media to increase their visibility.

By doing this, we’ll ensure the Cardano community sees the benefits and stays engaged with the exciting projects coming out of our hackathon.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

The team consists of Bharat and Erin

Bharat is a medical doctor with two years of experience in Decentralised Science. He is the founder of DeSci London, the largest IRL community in DeSci. They host workshops, monthly meetups, annual conferences and hackatons.

Erin is a neuroscientist with experience in leading a marketing agency, DeSci & blockchain community management, running hackathons, and impact assessments. She has been in DeSci for over two years.

Expert Team: Our team comprises a medical doctor and a scientist with over two years of experience in decentralised science.

Proven Track Record in DeSci and web3: We have previously run several successful workshops and hackathons in DeSci. These events have consistently received positive feedback and resulted in actionable outcomes, showcasing our ability to deliver impactful projects.

Strong Network: We have established connections with many scientists and those interested in DeSci. We can get a large number of submissions for the hackathon in advance, thereby engaging an audience not familiar with Cardano and ensuring its success.

Community Feedback: We will actively seek and incorporate feedback from the Cardano community and participants to continuously improve our events and approach.

Comprehensive Planning: Our planning process includes detailed timelines, task assignments, and contingency plans to address potential challenges. This thorough preparation ensures we can adapt and deliver the project effectively.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

• Months 1-2: Planning and Partnerships
• Secure sponsorship and partnership agreements.
• Finalise event location and date, aligning with a major Cardano event if possible.

• Month 3: Marketing and Promotions
• Launch a comprehensive marketing campaign.
• Open registrations and put a call out for scientists to submit ideas as early as possible

• Month 4-5: Pre-Hackathon Engagements
• Host preparatory webinars and workshops.
• Release hackathon information early to participants as well as ideas scientists have submitted that have received good community feedback.

• Month 6: Hackathon Execution
• Conduct the two-day hackathon event.
• Judging and awarding of prizes.

• Month 7: Post-Hackathon Support and Impact Assessment
• Assess the event’s impact and gather detailed feedback for future editions.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Bharat: LinkedIn, Twitter

Erin: LinkedIn, Twitter

Dr. Bharat Harbham – Project Lead

• Role: Overseeing the entire project, coordinating between different teams, and ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Experience: Medical doctor with over two years in decentralised science, founder of DeSci London, and experienced in organising hackathons.

Erin Magennis - Event Coordinator, Community Manager, Marketing

• Role: Handling communications, marketing, and community engagement activities to promote the hackathon and ensure active participation.
• Experience: Prev marketing roles and experience in community management

Getting Scientists

• We have strong networks in DeSci and will be able to engage many communities in submitting ideas and participating in the hackathon.

We will need to find a Cardano developer to be the technical lead. We have a few people in mind for this and have had positive initial conversations.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Our budget costs is an approximation and around 45-50K USD

• Venue Rental (accessible 24/7) and Setup: $8,000
• Renting the venue and setting up equipment, seating, and tech support.
• Travel and Accommodation: $5,000
• Covering travel and stay for key team members, guest speakers, and some participants.
• Marketing and Promotion: $2,000
• Promoting the hackathon on social media, creating promotional materials, and running ads.
• Prizes and Incentives: $24,000
• Offering attractive prizes to encourage high-quality projects and participation.
• Staff and Personnel: $8,000
• Paying the core team and temporary staff for their hard work during the event both during the event and workshops leading up to it.
• Contingency and Miscellaneous: $3,000
• A safety net for unexpected costs or emergencies.

Total Budget: $50,000

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

• Strategic Expansion: Our project targets Decentralised science (DeSci), a niche yet highly promising area for the Cardano ecosystem. By supporting this emerging field, we can position Cardano at the forefront of scientific innovation, potentially unlocking significant future use cases and value.

• Leverage Existing Events: Reduces costs and maximizes impact by piggybacking on established Cardano events.

• Long-term Value: Hosting this hackathon could lead to significant long-term benefits, such as the development of scientific applications on Cardano, increased blockchain utilisation, and the growth of a dedicated community of developers and scientists

• We’ve carefully determined our costs based on average industry rates to ensure they are reasonable and fair. We have also ensured that prizes and Incentives are competitive with other hackathons in the blockchain space, ensuring we attract high-quality talent without overspending.

• Marketing and Outreach: By leveraging Cardano’s existing community channels, we can effectively promote the event at a fraction of the usual cost.