Longevity, AI, and Cognitive Research Hackathon
[ONLY CONFIRMED GUESTS ARE ALLOWED IN!]
❗️No computer science necessary!
❗️Build a team there or bring your friends!
❗️Only skill required is problem-solving!
Sign up for just the demos/student presentations here: https://lu.ma/pw1g4f8y
🗒️ Summary:
A 3-day experimental hackathon focused on producing high-yielding research projects in unconventional computing, longevity, and cognition.
October's competition explores how unconventional computing methods—like reservoir computing or optical computing—can be applied to solve the challenges of aging. It also examines how the physics and computational dynamics of the aging process can inspire innovative approaches to computing and information processing. If you are interested in speaking, judging, or sponsoring please reach out to us here: https://www.ekkolapto.org/contact
Special Guest Speakers: David Sinclair PhD, Stephen Wolfram, Vadim Gladyshev PhD (Lab), Curt Jaimungal, Joscha Bach, Manolis Kellis PhD, Kennedy Schaal (X.com) (Rejuve.bio) (LinkedIn), Gil Blander PhD (InsideTracker), Michael Lustgarten PhD, Luca Del Deo, Nick Norwitz PhD (X.com) (YouTube) (Instagram) (LinkedIn)
Judges: David Barzilai MD PhD (X.com) (LinkedIn), Curt Jaimungal, Nick Norwitz PhD (X.com) (YouTube) (Instagram) (LinkedIn), Michael Lustgarten PhD
Collaborators and Supporters: Augmentation Lab
Snacks by: David™
Media Partner: Lifespan.io
Mentors: Safal Aryal, Misha Klopukh
Organization: Dünya Baradari, Alice Cai, Safal Aryal, Misha Klopukh, Luca Del Deo
Footage from previous events: https://youtu.be/YCkMyjzQDeg?si=Wk_7f_mIHUAJiyMB, https://youtu.be/g7IxSujW3tk?si=Jieaky3UKLmB03ym, https://youtu.be/h8nL5JMwT-E?si=qqF_K5zzPAxLijzs, https://youtu.be/ELlZeGA2FFE?si=9pB32pN-cOlJxeOR
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ekkolapto/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/ekkolapto
Special Thanks to Dr. Will Hahn, Michael Ostroff, and Misha Klopukh at the innovative Rubin Gruber Sandbox.
🏆💰AWARDS:
PRIZES INCLUDE: SE GPS Apple Watches, AirPods 4s, Meta Quest 3S, a FREE ticket to 2024 Biomarkers of Aging Conference [$375 value], LEGO, and more!
Best Longevity Innovation [$]
most promising solution for extending lifespan, improving healthspan or enlarged our 'cognitive lightcone' (e.g., calorie restriction, senolytics, saunas, fasting, exercise, red-light therapy, Free Radicals, How Life Works, Antagonistic Pleiotropy, Information Theory of Aging, etc.)
Best Theoretical Contribution [$]
significant theoretical advancements or models proposed during the hackathon.
Breakthrough in Unconventional Computing [$]
significant advancement in unconventional computing methods (e.g., quantum computing, biological computing, neuromorphic computing, planetary or mortal computation, etc.).
Breakthrough in Cognition [$]
significant advancement in unconventional cognitive augmentation and understanding (e.g., Levin's TAME, Friston's FEP, BCIs, The Book of Minds, languages, memory sports, plant cognition, lucid dreaming, meditation, cessation, psychedelics, QRI's Neural Annealing, Assembly Theory, Patterns in Nature, etc.).
Highest Potential Societal Impact [$]
greatest positive effect on society or the field of study.
Most Innovative Approach [$]
most novel and groundbreaking ideas in their project.
Best Interdisciplinary Collaboration [$]
most effectively integrates multiple disciplines (e.g., plant cognition, biology, mathematical neuroscience, CS, physics, etc.) to address the challenge.
Outstanding Technical Implementation [$]
exceptional technical skill and execution in their project.
Rising Star Award [$]
students or early-career researchers showcasing exceptional potential.
Winners will also be interviewed on ekkolápto's polyMath Series. This is a great opportunity for researchers to build a personal brand and get their name out there!
🧠 TOPICS:
This month's event focuses on creating research papers/theories for:
• New methods of computing to solve aging and disease.
• How the physics and computational dynamics of aging can inspire new ways of computing information, like a new compression method.
• Unique applications of meditation(s), psycho-technologies or cognitive science for public or professional benefit.
• Examples of unconventional computing: reversible computing, DNA and bio/neuro-inspired computing, bio-inspired algorithms, caustic computing, color computing, computing languages, thermodynamic computing, distributed computing, particle swarm optimization, reservoir computing, photonics, lithographic computing, fluid computing, cryptographic computing, claytronics, spintronics, molecular computing, origami computing, and much much more. Be wild, be creative, and most importantly have fun with it!
📝 DETAILS:
• Why join? Hackathons are great for learning new skills, meeting like-minded people, opening doors, and even building your résumé. You may meet a collaborator, mentor, investor, or create an idea for the next big startup or scientific breakthrough!
• Have an existing idea or theory? This is your opportunity to have a bit of fun and develop it!
• Unsure of what you want to do? Find inspiration and bounce ideas amongst the mentor network and your fellow participants.
• Structure? Team up! Goal is to have fun and create something interesting. Bring along your phones, tablets, or laptops!
🗓️ SCHEDULE:
Friday 10/25 [Kickoff, Speakers, Sponsors]
Please try to arrive early or on-time!
• 2:30PM-3PM: Check-In
• 3PM-3:30PM: Joscha Bach PhD's Special Presentation
• 3:45PM-4:15PM: Manolis Kellis PhD’s Special Presentation
• 4:15PM-4:30PM: Meet participants, bounce ideas, get inspired by our speakers' presentations! Start writing or spectate.
• 4:30PM-4:40PM: InsideTracker's Gil Blander Speaking on Longevity and Biomarkers.
• 4:40PM-4:50PM: Speech on Biohacking and the Informational Ambiguity of Synesthesia, Language, and Non-Classical Logic during Altered States.
• 4:50PM-5PM: Speech on Advanced Meditation and Cognitive Augmentation by Luca Del Deo.
• 5PM-10PM: Surprise Special Guest Speaker Stephen Wolfram joins later this evening! Meet participants, bounce ideas, get inspired by our speakers' presentations! Start writing or spectate.
Saturday 10/26 [Working]
• 9AM-4PM: Intense working. Make something amazing!
• 4PM-4:10PM: Special Presentation by Kennedy Schaal from Rejuve.bio on AI for Longevity and Methuselah Flies. Get some cool ideas!
• 4:10PM-5:30PM: Keep working!
• 5:30PM-5:50PM: Special Presentation from David Sinclair PhD.
• 5:50PM-10PM: Surprise Special Guest Speaker Vadim Gladyshev joins this evening! Keep working. Make something amazing!
Sunday 10/27 [Working, Submission, Awards, Speakers]
• 9AM-2PM: More working, last minute changes, finishing touches on projects.
• 2PM-2:10PM: Speaker Michael Lustgarten PhD's Special Presentation on Longevity and Biohacking.
• 2:10PM-4PM: Main hackathon participant presentations.
• 4PM-4:30PM: Judging.
• 4:30PM-5PM: Award Ceremony.
• 5PM-5:15PM: Special Presentation by Curt Jaimungal from Theories of Everything.
• 5:15PM-5:30PM: Special Presentation by Nick Norwitz PhD on Lean Mass Hyper Responders.
• 5:30PM-8PM: Closing Remarks + Q/A with Speakers + Networking.
⭐️ ATTENDANCE:
• Hungry? Food, coffee, and beverages are provided!
• Where: MIT Media Lab [3rd Floor, E15-341]
You must bring your phones, laptops, or tablets for working! If you have custom dietary choices, you are also welcome to take your food of choice with you.
• Who can attend: Anyone of any educational background, field, or age who likes solving ambitious problems with unorthodox solutions! STEM or the arts are welcomed. In particular, interdisciplinary thinkers from computer science, engineering, economics, finance, math, physics, biology, neuroscience, or philosophy may find this event more enjoyable as you get to meet students, professors, entrepreneurs, and investors.
• Suggested Donation: As a student-led hackathon we're working hard to make sure everyone has a really good time. Any donation to help support food, drinks, and awards would be wonderful! 😀
✍️ RULES:
• Eligibility: Open to individuals and teams up to 4 members. Participants must register before the start time.
• Submission: Each team has 10 minutes to do a presentation. Can be a theory or research paper diving deep into a topic of your choosing related to longevity, computing, and cognitive science.
Work must be original, created during the hackathon period, and submitted by the due date/time.
Properly cite all references and sources.