​Our thinkerSpace event for cognitive enhancement and augmentation on October 24: https://lu.ma/thinkerspace

​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

​Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ekkolapto/

​Follow us on X (Twitter): https://x.com/ekkolapto

​🗒️ Summary:

​A 3-day 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: Curt Jaimungal, Gil Blander PhD (InsideTracker), Michael Lustgarten PhD, Luca Del Deo

​Judges: David Barzilai MD PhD (X.com) (LinkedIn), Curt Jaimungal, Nick Norwitz PhD (X.com) (YouTube) (Instagram) (LinkedIn)

​Mentors: Safal Aryal, Luca Del Deo, Michael Ostroff, Yoyo Yuan, Misha Klopukh

​Collaborators and Supporters: Augmentation Lab,

​Media Partner: Lifespan.io

​​🏆💰AWARDS:

• ​Best Longevity Innovation [$]

  • ​most promising solution for extending human lifespan or improving healthspan (e.g., calorie restriction, senolytics, saunas, fasting, exercise, red-light therapy, Free Radicals, 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, languages, memory sports, plant cognition, lucid dreaming, meditation, cessation, psychedelics, QRI's Neural Annealing, Assembly Theory, 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.

​​• 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 on-time!

​• 4PM-4:30PM: Meet other participants, bounce ideas, and get inspired! Stay as long as you'd like.

​• 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: Meet other participants, bounce ideas, and get inspired by our speakers' presentations! Start writing or spectate. Stay as long as you'd like!

​​Saturday 10/26 [Working]

​• 9AM-10PM: Intense 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.

​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 teams up to 4 members. Participants must register before the start time.

​• Submission: Each team has 20 minutes to do an oral 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.