As a GitHub Campus Expert, I had the incredible opportunity to co-organize GitHub Field Day 2024 in New York City alongside my fellow Campus Expert peers. This experience went beyond just event planning ā it was about creating a platform where student leaders could connect, share, and grow together.
Our organizing team held regular meetings to:
- Plan event logistics
- Review and select applications from community leaders
- Create meaningful connections between participants
- Design an environment conducive to knowledge sharing
What is GitHub Field Day? šÆ
GitHub Field Day is an unconference-style event that brings together student leaders of technical communities for a day of collaborative learning and sharing. Hosted by GitHub Education at the Microsoft Reactor in New York City on March 15th, 2024, it’s designed to foster informal exchange of ideas and experiences among participants.
Event Format & Schedule š
Morning Session
- 10:00 AM - Registration Opens
- 11:00 AM - Welcome to Field Day
- 11:20 AM - Keynote
- 11:50 PM - Icebreakers
Discussion Tracks
- 12:30 PM - Talks/Discussions 1
- 1:05 PM - Talks/Discussions 2
- 1:40 PM - Talks/Discussions 3
- 2:10 PM - Lunch
- 3:05 PM - Talks/Discussions 4
- 3:40 PM - Talks/Discussions 5
- 4:15 PM - Closing Remarks
- 4:30 PM - Networking Event
Key Topics & Discussions š”
Participants engaged in various critical discussions about:
- Fostering inclusivity in technical communities
- Navigating internship opportunities
- Building and scaling community initiatives
- Creating inter-community connections
- Discovering local tech events
- Contributing to open source projects
Impact & Outcomes š
The event proved to be an inspiring platform where students:
- Shared strategies for launching new initiatives
- Exchanged ideas about maintaining student engagement
- Discussed funding opportunities and resources
- Explored cutting-edge work in AI/ML research
- Built lasting connections with fellow community leaders
Who Should Attend? š
Field Day is specifically designed for:
- Student leaders of technical communities
- Undergraduate students and young professionals
- Tech club presidents and chairpersons
- Hackathon organizers
- Hardware group leaders
- Programming community builders
The Unconference Format š£ļø
Unlike traditional conferences, Field Day embraces a loosely structured format that emphasizes:
- Interactive lightning talks
- Participant-led discussions
- Informal knowledge exchange
- Collaborative problem-solving
- Organic networking opportunities
Personal Reflection š
As an organizer, witnessing the exchange of ideas and the formation of new connections was incredibly rewarding. The event demonstrated the power of bringing together passionate student leaders who are dedicated to advancing their communities. The discussions around emerging technologies, particularly in the AI/ML space, showed how our student communities are at the forefront of technological innovation.
Recommendation š
For any student interested in:
- Developing their technical community
- Meeting like-minded leaders
- Gaining new perspectives on community building
- Learning about innovative initiatives
- Building valuable connections
I highly recommend attending GitHub Field Day and the Campus Experts Program! It’s more than just an event ā it’s a catalyst for community growth and leadership development.
More info from this years event is available at githubfieldday.com/nyc2024