[Swansea Hackspace] Re: Hackspace Digest, Vol 9, Issue 2

Fri Sep 6 12:00:43 BST 2013

In this paragraph:

In Swansea a hacker space has been meeting about fortnightly, and
hopes to obtain a permanent base and its own equipment. At this stage,
without its own facilities, it is difficult to gauge how many people
might eventually become involved.

I would suggest that that we reword the first sentence to Swansea Hackspace
has been meeting....

The reason being that its not just a group has been meeting up - it is the
group that the letter is about that meets up fortnightly.

Also, dont know if it would make much of a difference, but you could
include a note that as the only Hackspace in the area, that some members
travel from other areas to get to the meetings.  I do not know where others
are located, but I drive about 12miles to make it to the meetings.  Does
that count as bringing money into swansea??? lol

Best Regards

Graham

On 6 September 2013 10:50, <hackspace-request at swansea.hackspace.org.uk>wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. University recognition - revised version -        reply soon or
>       never (Edwin Beggs)
>    2. Re: University recognition - revised version -    reply soon or
>       never (Gerrit Niezen)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 09:50:15 +0100
> From: Edwin Beggs <E.J.Beggs at swansea.ac.uk>
> Subject: [Swansea Hackspace] University recognition - revised version
>         -       reply soon or never
> To: hackspace at swansea.hackspace.org.uk
> Message-ID: <16AB942D-782D-4B48-A164-2B711297D7EC at swansea.ac.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>
>
>
>    Note to this revised version. I have added a sentence about the
> different subjects encompassed by the hackerspace. About the history
> of the computer club, I do not know enough to write this. If people
> propose a couple of sentences, I will add them. Any other edits,
> please send urgently.
>
>    Other than that, I propose to send this version. The hackerspace
> will have an opportunity to look at any response given by the
> university before deciding anything. If you do NOT want this sent for
> whatever reason, you have to tell me SOON. As they say in Rome, "Qui
> tacet consentit" (silence implies consent).
>
>     Edwin
>
> ********************************
>
>     Hi! I am considering trying to get the hackerspace officially
> recognised by the University (or at least the College of Science) as
> part of its third mission. I am not sure what this will mean
> practically, but it will hopefully make dealing with the university
> easier! The third mission is about the local economy, and that is what
> I have tried to address here. If this works, maybe we should try to do
> something with Swansea Council.
>
>    I enclose a possible letter to the Chair of the College of Science
> Third Mission committee - not sent yet. Comments would be good -
> either edits or other things. Is this a good idea in the first place?
> I think so, but you may think of possible problems...
>
>         Edwin
>
>
> **************************************
>
> Hacker spaces are a diverse collection of societies now present in
> many cities worldwide (for a world list, see
> http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces
>   ) which are for (to quote from the Nottingham hacker space at
> http://nottinghack.org.uk/
>   ):
>
> "Who is it for? If you like to build, make & learn it’s for you.
> You’ll probably be interested in learning about and sharing knowledge
> of electronics, crafts, robotics, DIY, hardware hacking, photography,
> computing, reverse engineering, prototyping, film making, animation,
> building RC vehicles and other creative challenges and projects."
>
> They are a collection of individuals, collaborating together by
> pooling resources and expertise. For many members, it is about their
> hobbies. It encompasses science, engineering, maths and the arts.
> However a look at the computing industry will show that a number of
> large firms (eg. Apple and Google) have grown from very small
> beginnings, and have been set up by a few people collaborating
> together. Collaborations such as hacker space offer the opportunity
> for people to problem solve for industry or to set up their own
> businesses after prototyping new products. With its traditional
> reliance on industry, this is doubly important for South Wales, and
> for this purpose it would fall under the remit of the University's
> third mission.
>
> To illustrate the increasing emphasis on grassroots or bottom up
> collaborations for innovation even at the highest levels, we quote
> Chris Vein (US deputy Chief Technical Officer for government
> innovation) on hackathons, intensive collaborations. Hackathons could
> be held by any organisation, but hacker spaces are natural places
> where such activities would fit.
>
> Chris Vein (US deputy CTO for government innovation) has continually
> supported the use of hackathons in developing government innovation.
> He noted that these events were exceptional as a ‘sensemaking’ tool
> for government, encouraging agencies to “…find groups of people, bring
> them together around an issue or problem that needs to be fixed, then
> step out of the way and let the collective energy of the people in the
> room come together and really take that data and solve things in
> creative and imaginative ways that we would never have done ourselves.”
> http://open.nasa.gov/blog/2012/06/29/the-power-of-hackathons-in-government/
>
> NASA itself has held the world's largest hackathon, in 83 cities in 44
> countries on all 7 continents - See more at:
> http://open.nasa.gov/blog/2013/04/19/worlds-largest-hackathon
> In the UK, an interesting article on crowdsourcing and innovation is:
>
> http://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/apr/26/councils-hack-day-geek-squad-problem-solving
>
> There is now a hacker space in Cardiff, with its own accommodation:
> http://cardiff.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page
> For a list of UK hacker spaces,
> http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/United_Kingdom
> Notable ones are London http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/London_Hackspace
> and Nottingham (listed above)
>
> In Swansea a hacker space has been meeting about fortnightly, and
> hopes to obtain a permanent base and its own equipment. At this stage,
> without its own facilities, it is difficult to gauge how many people
> might eventually become involved.
>
> We ask that the University consider ways of supporting Swansea hacker
> space. Such help might include advice, awareness raising, donation of
> redundant equipment, etc. Recognition by the University or College of
> Science would be helpful. The hacker space would itself, in the best
> traditions of grassroots organisations, remain independent and run by
> its members.
>
> ********************
> -------------- next part --------------
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 10:50:57 +0100
> From: Gerrit Niezen <gerrit.niezen at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Swansea Hackspace] University recognition - revised
>         version -       reply soon or never
> To: Edwin Beggs <E.J.Beggs at swansea.ac.uk>
> Cc: hackspace at swansea.hackspace.org.uk
> Message-ID: <5BAB473E-DA2F-4CBA-91C2-C373C227C421 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>
> Hi Edwin,
>
> Thanks for working on this. A few comments:
>
> - The most commonly used spelling is "hackerspace", not "hacker space". We
> could even use the more UK-centric version, "hackspace".
> - "Collaborations such as hacker space" should probably be "Collaborations
> such as hackerspaces" ?
> - You say "we quote Chris Vein" but then only quote him in the next
> paragraph
> - We could be more specific about what exactly we want from the university.
> - It's "Swansea Hackspace", not "Swansea hacker space".  Provide a link to
> our official website http://swansea.hackspace.org.uk/
>
> Cheers,
> Gerrit
>
>
> On 6 Sep 2013, at 09:50, Edwin Beggs <E.J.Beggs at swansea.ac.uk> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >   Note to this revised version. I have added a sentence about the
> different subjects encompassed by the hackerspace. About the history of the
> computer club, I do not know enough to write this. If people propose a
> couple of sentences, I will add them. Any other edits, please send urgently.
> >
> >   Other than that, I propose to send this version. The hackerspace will
> have an opportunity to look at any response given by the university before
> deciding anything. If you do NOT want this sent for whatever reason, you
> have to tell me SOON. As they say in Rome, "Qui tacet consentit" (silence
> implies consent).
> >
> >    Edwin
> >
> > ********************************
> >
> >    Hi! I am considering trying to get the hackerspace officially
> recognised by the University (or at least the College of Science) as part
> of its third mission. I am not sure what this will mean practically, but it
> will hopefully make dealing with the university easier! The third mission
> is about the local economy, and that is what I have tried to address here.
> If this works, maybe we should try to do something with Swansea Council.
> >
> >   I enclose a possible letter to the Chair of the College of Science
> Third Mission committee - not sent yet. Comments would be good - either
> edits or other things. Is this a good idea in the first place? I think so,
> but you may think of possible problems...
> >
> >        Edwin
> >
> >
> > **************************************
> >
> > Hacker spaces are a diverse collection of societies now present in many
> cities worldwide (for a world list, see
> http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces ) which are for (to
> quote from the Nottingham hacker space at http://nottinghack.org.uk/ ):
> >
> > "Who is it for? If you like to build, make & learn it’s for you. You’ll
> probably be interested in learning about and sharing knowledge of
> electronics, crafts, robotics, DIY, hardware hacking, photography,
> computing, reverse engineering, prototyping, film making, animation,
> building RC vehicles and other creative challenges and projects."
> >
> > They are a collection of individuals, collaborating together by pooling
> resources and expertise. For many members, it is about their hobbies. It
> encompasses science, engineering, maths and the arts. However a look at the
> computing industry will show that a number of large firms (eg. Apple and
> Google) have grown from very small beginnings, and have been set up by a
> few people collaborating together. Collaborations such as hacker space
> offer the opportunity for people to problem solve for industry or to set up
> their own businesses after prototyping new products. With its traditional
> reliance on industry, this is doubly important for South Wales, and for
> this purpose it would fall under the remit of the University's third
> mission.
> >
> > To illustrate the increasing emphasis on grassroots or bottom up
> collaborations for innovation even at the highest levels, we quote Chris
> Vein (US deputy Chief Technical Officer for government innovation) on
> hackathons, intensive collaborations. Hackathons could be held by any
> organisation, but hacker spaces are natural places where such activities
> would fit.
> >
> > Chris Vein (US deputy CTO for government innovation) has continually
> supported the use of hackathons in developing government innovation. He
> noted that these events were exceptional as a ‘sensemaking’ tool for
> government, encouraging agencies to “…find groups of people, bring them
> together around an issue or problem that needs to be fixed, then step out
> of the way and let the collective energy of the people in the room come
> together and really take that data and solve things in creative and
> imaginative ways that we would never have done ourselves.”
> >
> http://open.nasa.gov/blog/2012/06/29/the-power-of-hackathons-in-government/
> >
> > NASA itself has held the world's largest hackathon, in 83 cities in 44
> countries on all 7 continents - See more at:
> > http://open.nasa.gov/blog/2013/04/19/worlds-largest-hackathon
> > In the UK, an interesting article on crowdsourcing and innovation is:
> >
> http://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/apr/26/councils-hack-day-geek-squad-problem-solving
> >
> > There is now a hacker space in Cardiff, with its own accommodation:
> http://cardiff.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page
> > For a list of UK hacker spaces,
> http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/United_Kingdom
> > Notable ones are London http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/London_Hackspaceand Nottingham (listed above)
> >
> > In Swansea a hacker space has been meeting about fortnightly, and hopes
> to obtain a permanent base and its own equipment. At this stage, without
> its own facilities, it is difficult to gauge how many people might
> eventually become involved.
> >
> > We ask that the University consider ways of supporting Swansea hacker
> space. Such help might include advice, awareness raising, donation of
> redundant equipment, etc. Recognition by the University or College of
> Science would be helpful. The hacker space would itself, in the best
> traditions of grassroots organisations, remain independent and run by its
> members.
> >
> > ********************
> > _______________________________________________
> > Hackspace mailing list
> > Hackspace at swansea.hackspace.org.uk
> > http://stoneship.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hackspace
>
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>
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> End of Hackspace Digest, Vol 9, Issue 2
> ***************************************
>
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