Open Data Camp 4: Weekend Arrangements

Open Data Camp is returning for a fourth time this coming weekend 25/26th February.

This purpose of this post is to provide details for attendees.

When

  • Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February
  • 10am-4pm on Saturday
  • 10:30am – 4pm on Sunday
  • See session grid for more detailed timings on individual sessions

Where

Pierhead
The National Assembly for Wales,
Cardiff Bay,
Cardiff,
CF99 1NA

We are particularly grateful to the National Assembly for Wales, and Assembly Member Mark Drakeford for sponsoring our use of the fabulous Pierhead building

The Pierhead web site has full details on how to get to the venue, and there is more information in our Venue and Accommodation page.

View Larger Map

Access

Pierhead is fully accessible, there is a lift as well as stairs connecting the public areas between the ground and first floors. A hearing loop is installed in the main hall and blue badge parking is available. Phone 0300 200 6565 with details of your blue badge to arrange.

Registration

Registration is from 10am on Saturday and 10:30am on Sunday. There’s no need to print your ticket, as we’ll check you in using Eventbrite.

We’ll be using “Hello. My name is….” sticky badges. Feel free to bring your own lanyard if you’d rather not stick it to yourself directly.

Who else will be there?

Around 150 people have registered to attend during the course of the weekend. Almost a hundred of those are on Twitter, and are included in the list: ODCamp_4

We have participants coming from India, America and across the British Isles.

Refreshments

It’s a weekend, and people are travelling from far-and-wide, so of course there’ll be tea and coffee – and pastries – for when you arrive.

Tea & coffee will be kept topped-up throughout the day,  and there will be cake in the afternoon.

Lunch: You’ll need to make your own arrangements for lunch, but don’t worry, as Pierhead is surrounded by cafes and restaurants. More info about that at: http://www.mermaidquay.co.uk/

Social activities

On Saturday evening we’ll be gathering at The Waterguard, which is about 5 mins walk from Pierhead [directions]. It’s a distinctive building – see Waterguard’s Facebook page for more info and photos.

Thanks to our sponsors, there will be some free drinks for Open Data Camp attendees (not inexhaustible!) and a snack buffet delivered in stages throughout the evening. Don’t expect a main meal.

Sunday

There’s less public transport around on Sundays – and people like a bit of a lie-in – so sessions will be starting slightly later, the doors will open at 10:30am.

Never attended an Unconference before?

If you’ve never attended an unconference before, you may be wondering what on earth to expect. Unlike traditional conferences, unconferences have no pre-defined agenda, and instead attendees ‘pitch’ session ideas to each other at the beginning of the event. These ideas are then written on post-it notes, which are assigned to vacant slots on a session grid, and that becomes the agenda.

For a more detailed (and much better) explanation, and links to more information, take a look at Unconference in a Box, compiled by James Cattell.

Our Volunteers

If you need anything at the weekend, or have a question, look out for people wearing maroon hoodies emblazoned with the Open Data Camp logo. Maroon-hoodie-wearers (Volunteers) have all given up their time for free, and will do their best to help you.

If you are a volunteer and haven’t already seen it, please take a look at Pauline Roche’s recent blog post Volunteers and Open Data Camp.

A massive thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help plan and run Open Data Camp. I won’t list everyone in this post – you already know who you are.

Our Sponsors

As you will already be aware, Open Data Camp is free to attend. That wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of forward-thinking organisations who help cover the costs associated with holding a large event.

If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to look at our sponsors’ web sites, and show your appreciation in person, or on Twitter.

Gold Sponsors

Government Digital Service @gdsteam

Silver Sponsors

Food Standards Agency Wales @foodgov
Food Standards Agency @foodgov
Fusion Data Science @FusionDataSci
The Open Data Institute @ODIHQ
Epimorphics @epimorphics
The Office of National Statistics @ONS
Ordnance Survey @OrdnanceSurvey
GeoVation Hub @Geovation
Safe Software @SafeSoftware
Valtech @Valtech

Bronze Sponsors

Networked Planet @nwplanet
UKgovcamp @UKGovCamp
AHA Digital Ltd @ahadigitalltd
Drawnalism @drawnalism
Swirrl @swirrl
nquiringminds @nqminds
ODI Cardiff @ODICardiff
Southampton Data Science Academy
Propolis @northernjamie
R n R Organisation @RnRworks
The Sensible Code Company @sensiblecodeio
SRS Shared Resource Service / Gwasanaeth Rhannu Adnoddau @SRSCOO