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layout: applicant
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title: Information for Applicants
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description: <b>Due to COVID-19, OceanHackWeek (OHW) 2020 will take place as a virtual, online event.
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<a href="applicant-info.html">Applications</a> close on July 13, 2020.
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<a href="applicant-info.html">Applications</a> close on July 13, 2020.
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In OceanHackWeek we will explore the intersection of data science
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and oceanography through tutorials and hands-on “hacking” projects.
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In OceanHackWeek we will explore the intersection of data science
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and oceanography through tutorials and hands-on “hacking” projects.
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To best benefit from the program, participants are expected to have some experience with Python programming and data analysis.
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permalink: applicant-info.html
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image: ohw18-hacking2.JPG
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## FAQs
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**Q: How will the coronavirus (COVID-19) impact OceanHackweek plans?**
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**Q: I am an undergrad / first year grad / faculty / etc. Is this program right for me?**
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**2020-4-23.** We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation and are in ongoing discussions
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about its impact on plans for a virtual event in 2020 and in-person events in 2021.
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Please check this web site regularly for updates.
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To stay up to date on the current impact of the coronavirus emergency and government recommendations,
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see the US Federal web site <a href="https://www.coronavirus.gov">https://www.coronavirus.gov</a>
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and your state and local positions.
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We welcome participants from all career stages and encourage applications from graduate students,
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postdocs and early career researchers. Advanced undergrad students with background in oceanography
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and data science are also welcome.
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**Q: I am an undergrad / first year grad / faculty / etc. Is this program right for me?**
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Before applying consider what you can bring to the event:
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by pitching a project,
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by your knowledge of data sets,
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by your programming/computational skills,
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by your project management skills.
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We welcome participants from all career stages. We strongly encourage applications from graduate students, postdocs and early career researchers. There are different ways to contribute to the event: by pitching a project, by your knowledge of data sets, by your computational skills, by your project management skills. We want you to grow/learn during the event! We expect all participants to be engaged in the team projects and focus during the week. If in doubt, simply apply and explain your motivation for participation.
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We want you to grow/learn during the event!
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If in doubt,
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simply apply and explain your motivation for participation.
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We expect all participants to be engaged in the team projects and focus during the week.
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**Q: I am proficient in Matlab / R / other languages but have not used Python. It has been on my list to learn. How can I make my application be stronger?**
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We want to build an inclusive Oceanography community regardless of people’s language of choice and programming level. Since the event is only one week long, the tutorials will be presented in one language (Python), and participants will benefit the most if they have basic familiarity with this language. We expect that you have gone through the [Software Carpentry Python tutorial](http://swcarpentry.github.io/python-novice-gapminder) to get familiar with the syntax in advance of the program. The more experience you can obtain before the beginning of the program, the easier it will be to follow the tutorials and contribute to the projects.
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We plan to accept participants with diverse skill levels and backgrounds in programming.
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However, to best benefit from and contribute to the program, participants are expected to have some experience with Python and/or R programming. Python will be the primary language used, but R examples and projects will be encouraged as well.
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Applicants with an extensive programming background in other languages (e.g. Matlab) are welcome to apply,
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if they are willing to get up-to-date on the required basics before the program.
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Due to the compressed nature of OceanHack 2020, the focus of the event will be in Python with some tutorials and projects conducted in R. Participants whose primary language is R should familiarize themselves with the materials included in [Python novice gapminder](https://swcarpentry.github.io/python-novice-gapminder/) and [R novice gapminder](http://swcarpentry.github.io/r-novice-gapminder/). These are a good reflection of the level we expect participants to be at coming into the workshop. [The Programming with Python materials](https://swcarpentry.github.io/python-novice-inflammation/) also provides a solid refresher of basic Python skills.
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**Q: I don't know the first thing about version revision/control systems. Can I still apply?**
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During the hackweek we will use Git and GitHub but you are not expected to be an expert on it. Again we recommend the [Software Carpentry lessons](https://swcarpentry.github.io/git-novice/) for git.
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Note that we will require you to create a [GitHub account](https://github.com/).
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**Q: I do not have any programming experience. Is the program a good opportunity to get started?**
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We believe that Oceanhackweek participants will benefit the most with some prior programming experience, and might not find the hackweek the best place to learn programming. If you do not have any programming experience we encourage you to start with some local or online training. Check if your institution runs a [Software Carpentry workshop](https://software-carpentry.org/workshops/), or try learning by going through the [Python Novice Lesson](http://swcarpentry.github.io/python-novice-gapminder).
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We believe that OceanHackWeek participants will benefit the most with some prior programming experience,
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and might not find the hackweek the best place to learn programming.
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If you do not have any programming experience we encourage you to start with some local or online training.
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Check if your institution runs a [Software Carpentry workshop](https://software-carpentry.org/workshops/).
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Once you have gone through some training you will have a better understanding of whether Oceanhackweek is right for you. We expect that you have basic operational knowledge of Python in advance of the program.
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Once you have gone through some training you will have a better understanding of whether OceanHackWeek is right for you.
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We expect that you have basic operational knowledge of Python in advance of the program.
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**Q: Do I have to be a stellar Python programmer to be accepted?**
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No, we aim to bring in motivated participants with a range of programming skills levels, but we do expect basic familiarity with Python (see above) so that you will be able to learn and have fun in the tutorials and hack project time!
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No. We aim to bring in motivated participants with a diverse range of programming skill levels.
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**Q: I already know a lot of what you plan to cover, should I apply / will I be bored?**
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Oceanhackweek is not only a place to learn new skills but also a place to share expertise and build a community together. If you are already an expert but are interested in sharing and helping others, we welcome you to pitch project ideas, contribute to hacking, and assist other participants during the tutorials by being a teaching assistant! Please mention this in the application. Send us an email if you have any questions!
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OceanHackWeek is not only a place to learn new skills but also a place to share expertise and build a community together.
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If you are already an expert but are interested in sharing and helping others,
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we welcome you to pitch project ideas,
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contribute to hacking,
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and assist other participants during the tutorials by being a teaching assistant!
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*Please mention this in the application. Send us an email if you have any questions!*
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**Q: I have strong computational skills but have not worked in oceanography?**
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To ensure that participants will be interested in the oceanography problems they are solving and can give back to the field later on, we require that participants have had at least some familiarity or prior experience with oceanography data.
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To ensure that participants will be interested in the oceanography problems they are solving and can give back to the field later on,
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we require that participants have had at least some familiarity or prior experience with oceanography data.
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**Q: I work in an ocean engineering/robotics/consulting company. Can I apply?**
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**Q: I work in an ocean engineering / robotics / consulting company. Can I apply?**
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Make sure to explain your motivation for participation in the application form! We may hold a career panel discussion, so please mention if you are interested in participating.
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<!-- We expect participants from the private sector to pay for their own expenses. -->
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Make sure to explain your motivation for participation in the application form!
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We may hold a career panel discussion,
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so please mention if you are interested in participating.
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**Q: I work in a non-US institution / organization / company. Can I apply?**
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Yes, we welcome applications from abroad.
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**Q: I was a participant in a previous Oceanhackweek. Can I apply again?**
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**Q: I was a participant in previous OceanHackWeek. Can I apply again?**
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Yes, we welcome applications from previous participants,
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but priority will be given to new applicants.
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If you are interested in being a TA (teaching assistant) during the hackweek,
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please mention that in the application.
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**Q: Am I supposed to participate in all tutorials and presentations?**
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Yes, we welcome applications from previous participants, but priority will be given to new applicants. If you are interested in being a TA (teaching assistant) during the hackweek, please mention that in the application.
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Yes. While we understand that not all topics may be 100% relevant to you we want to maximize engagement. Note that we post the lessons and videos online later, so if you are interested in only a portion of the OceanHackWeek consider that an option rather than taking someone's spot.
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