[open-science] Beyond the Repository Fringe - Code Challenge!

Thu Jun 25 12:54:19 UTC 2009

Repository Fringe Challenge 2009

See http://wiki.repositoryfringe.org/index.php/The_Challenge

We have flipped the idea of a Challenge on its head: instead of coming
to the event, and having two days to work on something of your own
devising, we have come up with the "Problem", and are giving you a full
month to come up with a solution!

The Challenge

     "Design a REPOSITORY FOCUSED/ENHANCEMENT service to a
researcher/academic/teacher that they would feel is intuitively useful
TO THEM PERSONALLY"

One caveat:

     The only information the researcher will type in and give your
service is their name, email, and possibly their current institution.

     Any other details that the service asks for will have to be hard
fought for and must provide instant positive results from the point of
view of the researcher.

Ideas

Some ideas for useful services:

     * 1-click deposit from any application or any item in any form?
No... We ask for miracles!
     * mining repos, research council data and other centres for the
abstracts of projects that the researcher has worked on, and use that to
get keywords which the service uses to find collegues working in similar
areas.
     * Compiling a list blog pages, tweets, journals, and websites which
mention the researcher and/or the researcher's work and providing the
researcher with a way to track how their individual efforts ripple
through their network.

Entering

So people, come to the event and pitch your ideas (based on the above
criteria) to a panel of judges. You are allowed to present anything from
a paper prototype, to a screencast, to a working UI, to a full-blown
prototype. The presentations will be part of the "Show and Tell"
sessions on the Friday afternoon.

The submissions are judged on both their appropriateness and their
technical achievability: this means that a paper prototype might well
beat working code if it satisfies these criteria AND is technically
feasible. If there is doubt about the feasibility of a design, the onus
is on the entrant to demonstrate this - so working code, all other
things being equal, will count for something.

The reward

Isn't taking part enough of a reward?

OK... there will be a first prize and two runners-up prizes. Details to
follow.

Also, if the judges so like a particular submission, then they may
recommend it for a small (up to £5,000) grant to give the developer some
time to develop the idea into a working prototype. The actual amount
recommended will be at the discretion of the judges and will be based on
their assessment of how many days development might best be spent on this.

Register for this free event and sign up for a ‘performance’ of your
choice at: http://beyondtherepositoryfringe-emailinvite.eventbrite.com/

University accommodation is available at pre-Festival prices on a
first-come, first-served basis. To book please contact the Bed and
Breakfast Team on 0131 651 2007 or email them at bed.breakfast at ed.ac.uk.
Alternatively visit:
http://www.edinburghfirst.com/accommodation/availability.asp

For further enquiries contact: rf09 at ed.ac.uk.

Stuart Macdonald
RF09 Organising Committee

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration number SC005336.