So, the 18th of June is nearly here! This post will walk you through what the day will be like for you!
You’ve made your way to the RDS in Dublin for the largest tech innovation event in Europe this year. You should be proud of all the work you’ve done so far. You can’t wait to see what other ninjas from Dojos around Europe have created. You are more than ready to showcase your awesome work that you’ve been preparing at your local CoderDojo! But do you know how the day itself will be organised? Let’s find out!
8:30 – 9:30 Project registration & setup
From 8:30 ninjas (and their parents) begin entering the main hall of the RDS to set up and showcase their projects. Ninjas will register at the desks and receive their special t-shirt and event lanyard. You will also be told where in hall your stand is and directed to go step up. Each project is allocated a metre square stand with one plug socket, on which they can put anything that helps to illustrate their project and what it does. You can be as creative as you like, so make sure your stand highlights how awesome your project is!
10:00 – 12:30 Judging Commences
During the Judging process, projects are assessed by three different individuals. Judges will walk throughout the stands and ask ninjas about their projects in more detail. Projects are rated for their coolness (and uniqueness), complexity, how the project is presented and communicated to the judges, and it’s design and usability. All our judges are very friendly, so you’ve nothing to be scared of here. You must be at your stand for the duration of judging.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
From one o’clock ninjas can take it easy! All participating ninjas will be given a lunch bag with a piece of fruit, a sandwich, and a drink. Some family groups prefer to travel to restaurants and food trucks in Hall 3. This time also offers a great opportunity for you to meet other ninjas from around Europe and even tell the general public about your project.
14:00 – 16:30 Judging Deliberation
After lunch, the Judges will be deciding on which projects should win an award in each category for each of the different age groups. This provides an optimal opportunity to participate in Launch’d.
The Launch’d event will run concurrently in the RDS Industries Hall. Any ninjas interested in design will be awed by the funky set-up of the five different stages. Ninjas can hear from some of the 60 speakers who will offer inspiration on a variety of topics from gaming design to addressing social issues with tech. These talks hope to inspire and advise the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.
Additionally, there will be three exciting discovery areas dotted around the RDS offering ninjas the opportunity to participate in interactive activities including experimenting with Kano, 3D printing and soldering.
16:30 – 17:55 Awards Ceremony
After having presented their project, check out what other ninjas across the continent have developed and heard from industry experts in a variety of fields, ninjas will enter the awards hall. The ceremony will commence with plenty of fun, music and games between the presentation of awards to those deemed by the judges as worthy recipients.
18:00 Event Close
After an awesome day of making new friends and developing confidence in their tech abilities, the ninjas will walk out of the RDS full of inspiration and ambition to start on their next project idea!
Anyone who hasn’t entered a project into the Awards but want to attend, including siblings and guardians of entrants, need to register for their free tickets here: tickets.coolestprojects.org/