IDEA Hacks 2024

Jan 12-14

Ackerman Grand Ballroom

IEEE at UCLA is pleased to present the tenth anniversary of IDEA Hacks, the premier hardware-focused hackathon on the West Coast. Hosted by IEEE’s Student Branch at UCLA for 36 hours this upcoming January 12-14, 2024, it provides hundreds of students from both UCLA and local community colleges with the opportunity to develop their own tangible products. Throughout the experience, IEEE provides parts, tools, space, food, and workshops all for free, so all students can focus solely on their projects.

This year will be the tenth anniversary of IDEA Hacks, and the theme “Celebrating Our Communities” will encourage students from all backgrounds to embrace their unique backgrounds and create something that will improve or benefit their communities, surroundings, and environments. The three sub-categories - sustainability, accessibility, and “go touch grass” (going outside) - are aimed to promote the creation of projects that will benefit the health of the planet, improve usability, or share the enjoyment of life. Everything you need throughout the weekend, from parts to food to knowledge, will all be right at your fingertips. Communication and announcements will happen through a Discord server we will set up for the hackathon.

Schedule

Friday, January 20th

Event	Time / Location
Webdev Workshop	4:00 pm - 4:45 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Check In	4:30 pm - 8:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Team Building Workshop	7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Opening Presentation	8:30 pm - 9:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Hacking Begins	9:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Microcontroller Workshop	9:15 pm - 9:45 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Wireless Connectivity Workshop	10:00 pm - 10:30 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom

Saturday, January 21st

Event	Time
Breakfast	8:00 am - 10:00 am Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Lunch	12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Dinner	6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom

Sunday, January 22nd

Event	Time
Breakfast	7:00 am - 9:00 am Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Hacking Ends	9:00 am Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Round 1 Judging	9:15 am - 10:45 am TBD
Judging Finals	11:00 am - 12:30 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Awards and Closing	12:40 pm - 1:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom

Frequently asked questions

Who can attend?

All students interested are encouraged to apply regardless of your major or experience level! And although most participants end up being UCLA engineering students, we would love to welcome participants from any major and those outside the Bruin community :)

What if I don't have a team?

You are free to hack alone, but doing it with a team makes it all the more fun! We encourage everyone to be on teams of around 4-5 hackers. Not only will this make it more enjoyable, but more equipment will be available for your use.

What tools and hardware will be provided for my team?

If you would like to see a specific part or device at the hackathon, you can specify so on your application and we'll do our best to accommodate! You can also view a full list of available parts on our Parts page closer to the start of the hackathon. We will also provide soldering stations, 3D printers, and laser cutters for you to use on your projects.

How do I contact IDEA Hacks?

Email us at evp@ieeebruins.com! If you have feedback on the website please reach out at webmaster@ieeebruins.com.