Meetups and Events
We run regular meetups on the last thursday of every other month (you can find them listed on meetup.com/techexeter) and we also run other events from time to time!
“Really friendly group – lots of smart and engaging people.”
“… a good group with a fairly diverse mix of people and interests in the industry. It’s the perfect ground for expanding your knowledge from other professionals experiences …”
“Nice blend of tech/non-tech and some interesting conversations and debates. Very worthwhile”
“Good talks and event at @Exeter_Web last night! Look forward to seeing what comes of #TechExeter”
“The ladies are absolutely rocking @Exeter_Web, impressive talk from Rachel from @informatics_lab”
“Brilliant talks at @Exeter_Web this evening on machine learning and webgl”
The meetups are normally informal gatherings which begin with three 10 minute talks, Q&As and then networking afterwards. This super-friendly group includes engineers, designers, software developers, data scientists and many more tech related professions from all walks of life.
The events are great opportunities for peer-learning and meeting other professionals in the field of tech. The informal environment and friendly audience make it a great place to try public speaking and practice presentation skills – we welcome speakers on many different subjects, whether it is their first or one-hundredth talk!
Get involved:
Give a 10 minute lightning talk, run a workshop or speak at our conference
Click to find out how
Join us (for FREE!) at Positive Light Projects on Sidwell Street for a mix of interesting lightning talks and networking, plus FREE PIZZA 🍕🍕🍕 courtesy of CA TechTalent!
Schedule
- 7.00pm: Doors open
- 7.30pm: Introduction and talks start
- Anna Davey-Mittchel: The techno-politics of accountability: simulated humans, AI, and commercialism
- Peter Stephenson: Homelessness in Exeter and the services St Petrock’s provides
- Ross Edwards: Using Unreal Engine to bring together satellite imagery, lidar and gps telemetry data to generate detailed digital portals replicating real world environments
- 9.00pm: Doors close.
There is no bar at the venue so it’s BYOB. Light refreshments, pizza and snacks provided by CA TechTalent.
** If you’d like to talk at this or a future event, please get in touch with us!
Speakers
Anna is a techno-political Researcher at the University of Bristol and sits on their Digital Societies Faculty Research Group Leadership team. Anna looks to understand issues of accountability and bias in the development of emerging technologies. Her research investigates the construction and commercialisation of humanoid AI robots, what these tell us about conceptions of womanhood and whiteness, and how this affects global socio-political spaces, policy and regulation, and ideas of citizenship.
Alongside her academic work, Anna is an experienced innovation and funding advisor, currently working with The University of Exeter’s SETsquared and Knowledge Transfer Partnership teams. She has supported leading UK business and academic partners across multiple sectors, aiding them to collaborate and secure millions of pounds in funding.
Starting off as a structural engineer, Peter retrained in my late 20s to work in the church, but ended up volunteering in network of drug rehab centres in Madrid (long story!). This turned into a full time role and, on returning to the UK he started a career providing housing for people at risk of homelessness. After 18 years with YMCA in Exeter, Birmingham and Somerset, Peter became the Director of St Petrock’s in late 2021 in order to return to more grass-roots work with the most disadvantaged.
Ross is lead GIS Developer at UK Hydrographic Office.
FAQ
Q. I’m not a techy person; can I still attend?
A. YES! We welcome those working in tech/digital and those who want to find out more about tech!
We’re back with our first meetup of the year, and it’s bumper-packed with 4 speakers!
We’ll be at Positive Light Projects on Sidwell Street for a mix of interesting lightning talks and networking.
Schedule
- 7.00pm: Doors open
- 7.30pm: Introduction and talks start
- Dr Chico Camargo (University of Exeter): Tech to track misinformation and disinformation
- Dr Freddy Wordingham (DigiLab): Cutting edge data science learning
- Tea/Coffee break
- Joel Freedman (Satellite Applications Catapult): Designers in space
- Tilly Loveland-Perkins (Cineon): Anxiety detection using eye-tracking
- 9.00pm: Doors close.
There is no bar at the venue so it’s BYOB – but there will be tea/coffee available.
** If you’d like to talk at this or a future event, please get in touch with us!
FAQ
Q. I’m not a techy person, can I still attend?
A. YES! We welcome those working in tech/digital, and those who want to find out more about tech!
Register here : https://www.meetup.com/techexeter/events/290018705/
More on our speakers:
Chico Camargo
Chico Camargo is a Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Exeter, a research associate at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, and director of the CC Lab. In his research, he develops new computational methods to study the evolution of information, combining approaches from the natural and social sciences. He is also a science communicator, having already written for Science, HuffPost Brasil, The Conversation, and produced more than 50 videos for YouTube.
Dr Freddy Wordingham
Prior to starting the University of Exeter’s RSE group with Omar Jamil, Freddy worked as the Research Assistant for Tim Harries’ Biophysics Group engineering HPC (high-performance computing) numerical simulations.
Focusing on cancer research, the group uses these simulators to investigate the interaction between light and molecules within the human body.
Freddy also leads software development as the Chief Technical Officer of Databound, a commercial software engineering company based in the southwest of England.
Joel Freedman
Joel is a Design and Innovation Consultant who has worked in the Space Sector for 10 years. He specialises in applying a combination of human centred design and system innovation approaches to explore how cutting-edge technologies can be applied to solve complex social, environmental, and industrial challenges globally.
He is the Head of Innovation Services at the Satellite Applications Catapult – a part-Government funded technology and innovation company focusing on growing the UK space sector, and co-founder of the Designers in Space Community – an international community bringing together space technology innovators with creative design practitioners.
Tilly Loveland-Perkins
Tilly is a Data Scientist and Researcher with a background in machine learning and animal sciences. At Cineon, her expertise is being used to integrate fundamental principles of psychology and neuroscience research to assess an individual’s cognitive and behavioural states. Using eye tracking, Cineon can detect these responses by analysing the spread, randomness, duration, error, or latency of particular eye movements during a task.
Our annual festive get together! 🎅🎄🥂
Join us at Kaleider Studios for some festive fun – we’ll have some seasonal snacks available and feel free to bring a bottle!
No talks for this session, just a last chance to meet up with people before the year is over. Maybe we’ll do some party games? 😁
Sign up : https://www.meetup.com/techexeter/events/289252830/
We had a wondeful time with you all over the weekend, thank you for taking part and for showing us your awesome projects! You all did amazingly well!
🏆 First Place Local Winner : INTO THE VOID
🏆 Runner up: By Jove
Huge congrats to both teams!
📷 We’ve got some photos up at https://www.flickr.com/photos/196651557@N03/albums/72177720302640350 and will be making a short video which will go up on our Youtube page.
We’re back!
We can’t wait to see all of your lovely faces back at the UK Met Office HQ in Exeter. This year we’re sponsored by theJoint Centre for Excellence in Environmental Intelligence, South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications and TechExeter CIC.
The weekend will be about meeting new people and solving interesting challenges together. Don’t let the ‘Apps’ part put you off, the best teams are often the most diverse teams in terms of age, skills and experience. We have seen great projects made entirely from cardboard!
SIGN UP HERE : https://2022.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/exeter/event
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT MONDAY 26th SEPT
Join us at Exeter Science Park for our summer social of 2022 – fFamily friendly fun, outdoors activities, and of course our Pub Quiz!
We’ll have a selection of soft drinks available, feel free to BYOB🍸🍺 We’re working on catering (if you’d like to help out by sponsoring this event then please get in touch!)
We will be situated on the grassy area with the dome at the Exeter Science Park – please drive to the Park & Change car park, and NOT the regular science park visitor car park.
Sign up here : https://www.meetup.com/techexeter/events/287260210/
Above: Those who stayed for the pub quiz. Favourite round: Cheese or Disease!
More photos here : https://photos.app.goo.gl/f5DKNvjekmJvVBui8
Join us at MAKETANK for our first event of the season – Lightning Talks, chat, news and good times await!
7.00pm Welcome
7.20pm Talks Start
9.00pm Close
9.00pm – 10.00pm After Party 🍻 at 🕹️Boneyard Arcade (3 minute walk away)
There is no bar at MAKETANK so it’s BYOB – we’ll provide a selection of tea/coffee soft drinks and snacks. (There is a bar at the Boneyard Arcade)
If you’d like to talk at a future event, please get in touch with us!
FAQ
Q. I’m not a tech person, can I still attend?
A. YES! We welcome those working in tech, and those who want to find out more about tech!
** Please note, there is no accessible toilet at this location (the toilet is 2 flights of stairs away, sorry!)
Our speakers for the evening:
Josh Kopeček
Josh is founder of ECHOES, a platform for making and publishing locative audio experiences. He has worked with award-winning artists to create immersive listening experiences around the world, utilising the latest in audio and location technology.
Kalkidan Legesse
Founder of Sancho’s, a black-owned sustainable fashion & ethical gift department shop, and co-founder of OWNI: AI-powered digital catalogue for everything you own.
Dan Wiseman
Co-founder of “The Detective Society”, delivering ‘immersive mystery puzzle games’ through customers letterboxes. Dan recently appeared on Dragons’ Den with the company and has ambitious plans for its future.
Signup : https://www.meetup.com/techexeter/events/284604567/
Help the Business School respond to our local needs
The University of Exeter Business School has been getting closer to the business community in the South West region during the last two years. For example, academics carry out research and exchange knowledge for mutual benefit. Businesses recruit students for work placements and projects, supply their goods and services or take part in workshops and masterclasses either online or in person.
As part of this new project, the Business School would really welcome the views of local businesses, entrepreneurs and social enterprises about their experiences and perceptions of the Business School. This is a great chance to tell the University of Exeter Business School how it can support local enterprise and innovation most effectively and use its insight and knowledge so that together we can help local businesses to develop and grow
Business School Survey link : https://tinyurl.com/te22-uoeb
The South West Cyber Security Cluster is pleased to announce Secure South West, now in its 15th conference iteration. Erika Lewis, DCMS Director of Cyber Security and Digital Identity will keynote the event in person.
This year’s theme is cyber security skills and new blood. The event focusses on skills development and youth engagement for cyber security, providing a uniquely inspirational opportunity for industry, further and higher education and training and recruitment organisations to come together to strengthen the SW as a place to base safe online businesses.
Get your tickets from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/secure-south-west-ssw-15-tickets-260371517217 and find out more about the event on the Secure South West website.
In lieu of a proper christmas meetup this year, we’re having an xmas social at Exeter’s new videogame arcade “Boneyard”!
£5 for 20 tokens – enough for an hour of pinball / rhythm action / driving / retro gaming / beat’em up fun, and a selection of drinks is available from the bar. No food, but Sidwell St is seconds away 😀
On arrival, please grab yourself a TechExeter lanyard so we can identify you!
https://www.meetup.com/techexeter/events/282183635/
Thursday, December 2, 2021
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM GMT
Boneyard Video Arcade Exeter 3 Red Lion Lane · Exeter
From the traffic lights on Sidwell Street, head towards Yonk Asian Foods and then take the first left onto Red Lion Lane – boneyard arcade will be on your right.
Whilst we’re not physically at the Met Office HQ this year, we still plan to have a great hackathon!
What is a hackathon?
Now in its 10th year, NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge (otherwise known as Space Apps) is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world. During the Space Apps weekend, teams engage with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space.
The weekend will be about meeting new people and solving interesting challenges together. Don’t let the ‘Apps’ part put you off, the best teams are often the most diverse teams in terms of age, skills and experience. We have seen great projects made entirely from cardboard.
REGISTER HERE : https://2021.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/exeter-devon/event
2021 Judges
https://2021.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/exeter-devon/event
