July 9, 2020 --- Final Two HOPE 2020 Keynote Speakers Announced

We're please to announce our final two keynotes for HOPE 2020!

Libby Liu served as the inaugural chief executive officer of the Open Technology Fund, and provided strategic leadership and operational direction to meet OTF's mission of advancing Internet freedom around the world. Libby led the successful transformation of the eight-year-old OTF program into an independent stand-alone non-profit corporation, maintaining OTF core values and methodology while ensuring uninterrupted operations during the startup phase for the projects, people, and at-risk communities OTF supports globally. Prior to leading OTF, Libby served as president of Radio Free Asia, where in addition to providing strategic vision, supporting innovative programming, directing editorial and administrative policies and procedures, she coordinated issues in these areas with USAGM, stakeholders, and other organizations to address the region's most pressing issues. Prior to joining RFA, she served as the director of administration and strategic planning at the Baltimore headquarters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). There, she played a pivotal role in the board's establishment of the NAACP's five year strategic plan goals and objectives and in the implementation of the plan. Earlier this year she received the 2020 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Technology.

Flavio Aggio is the chief information security officer at the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, he represents WHO in key forums focused on information security and cybersecurity. Prior to joining WHO, Flavio was the chief technology officer at the city and county of San Francisco, where he developed technology solutions to modernize and protect the city. Before that, he held technical leadership positions in enterprise architecture, project management, telecommunications, and IT operations with Unisys, ASML, Dow Chemical, and Rohm and Haas. In 2014, he enabled the interconnection of the San Francisco and San Jose Wi-Fi networks. The two cities were using a new technology (Hotspot 2.0) allowing smartphones to automatically connect and roam between their two networks, as well as provide a layer of security on what would not normally be available in wide-open public hotspots. Flavio holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from Sao Paulo University in Brazil and an executive MBA from Temple University in the United States.

Libby Liu and Flavio Aggio join our seven previously announced keynote speakers: Idalin Bobé, Tiffany Rad, Yeshimabeit Milner, Jaron Lanier, Cindy Cohn, Cory Doctorow, and Richard Thieme. Find out more about them on the keynote page.

July 7, 2020 --- Three More HOPE 2020 Keynote Speakers Announced

HOPE 2020 is pleased to announce three additional keynote speakers: Idalin Bobé, Tiffany Rad and Yeshimabeit Milner. Find out more about them, as well as the four keynote speakers previously announced, on the keynote page.

HOPE 2020 is an all-online event, taking place for nine days from July 25th to August 2nd, 2020. The program includes talks, panel discussions, workshops, performances, contests, and more. Registered attendees will have the opportunity to interact with each other and with presenters, and will also receive a special badge and shirt.

To register, visit the 2600 store.

July 6, 2020 --- Cyberpunk Now Film Festival Competition Announced

Cyberpunk Now Banner

It seems like we're currently living in the overturned tech-saturated hyper-real world predicted by the cyberpunk literature of the 1980s and 90s. We suddenly find ourselves in The Cyberpunk Now.

Are you interested in making a short film that illustrates this point? Maybe something a little bit more about the future?

The Cyberpunk Now Film Festival is a five-day media production hackathon, which is part of the Hackers on Planet Earth 2020 Conference.

Pre-Register: https://cyberpunk.hope.net/pre-register/

Writers, directors, actors, animators, and all kinds of artists are welcome to participate. You don’t need to come with a whole plan or a whole team, you can be an absolute beginner who wants to learn or a professional just tired of being stuck inside for months. What you need to be is creative and ready to give it a shot.

If you are a Hackers on Planet Earth 2020 Conference ticket holder, then there is no fee to submit an entry for the film festival (pending verification of your HOPE 2020 ticket), but the competition is also open to the public.

HOPE Conferences are unique events, characterized by a spirit of innovation and high awareness of both the benefits and dangers of technology in our society, which is why our new feature, The Cyberpunk Now Film Festival, is such a perfect match for the theme of the larger event.

On July 25th, The Cyberpunk Now Film Festival's organizers will publish a set of top-secret Required Challenge Elements at https:/www.cyberpunkfestival.com and https://cyberpunk.hope.net, and participants will have five days to team up, brainstorm, write, produce, edit, polish, and upload their finished films to the submission portal by the deadline on July 30th.

There are six Challenge Categories: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Educational, Experimental, and Found Footage.

Winners will be screened as they are announced in a Hackers On Planet Earth 2020 conference video feed on August 2nd, viewed by participants around the world, with the Grand Prize winner being announced during the conference's Closing Ceremonies that same day.

Cyberpunk is now. We are living in the genre. WE ARE CYBERPUNK.

Read the rules, find teammates on the Discord server, and pre-register now by going to https://cyberpunkfestival.com/

June 15, 2020 --- Four of Nine HOPE 2020 Keynote Speakers Announced

Preparations for HOPE 2020 are continuing. As announced, HOPE 2020 is being transformed into an entirely virtual experience and we want to make that as amazing as we possibly can. We're still accepting applications for speakers and workshops.

We've tripled the length of the event to span nine days (July 25th to August 2nd, 2020) and we will have a different keynote for each of them.

View the first four keynotes on the keynote page.

May 19, 2020 --- HOPE 2020 will be an online event

HOPE 2020 will take place online from July 25 through August 2, 2020. Hackers from around the world will convene virtually for nine days of online presentations, workshops, collaboration and entertainment.

Health risks in 2020 make large gatherings and travel impractical for attendees. Simultaneously, there is tremendous need for the creativity and skill that hackers offer. HOPE 2020 will showcase the efforts hackers are making to seek solutions to today's biggest challenges.

Shifting to an entirely online format means HOPE attendees from around the world will convene from wherever they are to experience the same types of great content that HOPE is known for. This is a different way of doing things, and the HOPE community will be there to help presenters do a good job.

The conference will consist of scheduled sessions across the nine days. Talks, workshops, panels, keynotes, performances and more will be livestreamed on the Internet. Conference attendees will have the opportunity for live online interaction with presenters and with each other.

Email your talk proposal to speakers@hope.net. Email your workshop proposal to workshops@hope.net. Include a proposed title, an abstract, and a short bio for each speaker. Provide enough information so it is clear why HOPE attendees would find your topic interesting, new, and relevant. Make it clear why YOU are the right person or people to give this presentation. Most speaker/panel sessions will be allotted 40 minutes for the session, and then 10 minutes for live Q&A. Workshops can be allotted as much time as you feel is necessary. Speakers will record their own sessions in advance, and then attend the live discussion afterwards. Workshops are encouraged to be live, but it is fine to have pre-recorded portions.

All types of presentations are encouraged, from solo talks to panels, debates, workshops, demonstrations, and interactive discussions. Presenters must consider the viability of their session for an entirely online and pre-recorded presentation method. Some sessions will be entirely live.

Submissions should highlight their relevance to hacking. They should be original, and not previously presented. We encourage presenters from all age groups and backgrounds.

HOPE is an inclusive event, seeking civil discourse and education on all topics related to the hacker world. HOPE encourages all approaches and interpretations to hacking, presented by hackers, makers, developers, teachers, learners, and experimenters. If you have a passion for discovering how things work and sharing that knowledge, you have the hacker spirit.

Some topics from past HOPE events, and new topics of interest, include:

April 21, 2020 --- How Hackers are Helping Address the COVID-19 Coronavirus

The unprecedented health threats and global response to the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted everyone. Many hackers, makers, educators, and others have put their skills to use by contributing to solutions to a wide range of challenges.

These contributions are the essence of the hacker spirit: People using their skills, intelligence and energy to help other people. Hackers are helping by designing, making and distributing much-needed medical supplies. They are helping by creating communication forums, informative websites, software, and safe entertainment. They are helping by fighting disinformation, and doing research and experimentation to investigate solutions and mitigations.

We created a wiki page where we have collected links to some of the projects, products, groups, and activities that highlight how hackers are helping.

March 19, 2020 -- HOPE 2020 COVID-19 Update

You've probably received many emails concerning COVID-19 and how it's changing everyone's plans. Right now the most important thing is for you to be safe and to take the necessary precautions to ensure the situation doesn't get any worse. Check the advice on sites like www.who.int and www.cdc.gov and please encourage others to.

This is something we're all in together. We'll need to support one another and be creative, both in person and online. This is something we believe the hacker community can excel in. And when this is over, we hope we all become stronger and never take for granted the little things that really matter.

We are continuing to work on organizing the HOPE conference in as safe a manner as possible. The next couple of months will be key in deciding its future. For now, we feel it's best for us to keep planning and hope for the best. We will keep you updated every step of the way and continue to send progress reports. At this point in time, we all need things to look forward to.

If you were planning on submitting a proposal for a talk or workshop, go ahead and send the best proposal you can come up with. There are no health risks in dreaming big. Keep your fingers crossed and join us in wishing for a truly joyous occasion after we get past all of this.

The HOPE Staff

Feb 4, 2020 -- HOPE 2020 Call For Participation - Workshops!

Submissions are now open for workshops, in addition to speakers and more, at HOPE 2020. Our 13th conference will take place at St. John's University in Queens, New York City from July 31st through August 2nd, 2020.

You can find more details about this on our workshops page.

Jan 26, 2020 -- Announcing discount hotel options for HOPE 2020

We are pleased to share news about two off-campus hotels for HOPE 2020, both in close proximity to the conference.

Conference rates are now available at two area hotels: The Fairfield Inn and Suites for $159/night and the Courtyard Marriott for $169/night, plus tax and fees. (The two hotels are right next door to each other.)

Both hotels are in the Fresh Meadows area of Queens, about a five minute ride from St. John's. Use:

https://www.marriott.com/events/start.mi?id=1579730125771&key=GRP

to make a reservation at either location. We are planning a shuttle between the hotels and the conference.

Cost-effective campus housing options are also available for attendees. Visit https://www.hope.net for more information.

Tickets for HOPE are now on sale at:

https://store.2600.com/products/tickets-to-hope-2020-third-batch

HOPE 2020, July 31-August 2, 2020, St. John's University, Queens, New York City

https://www.hope.net https://twitter.com/hopeconf

Jan 16, 2020 -- HOPE 2020 Call For Speakers Now Open!

You can now submit your ideas for talk/panel submissions for our 13th HOPE conference, to be held at St. John's University, Queens, New York City from July 31st to August 2nd, 2020.

You can find more details about this on our speakers page.

Jan 15, 2020 -- HOPE 2020 Onsite Housing Options

As promised, we have info on housing for St. John's University during this year's HOPE conference. This is an ideal solution for those who want really affordable accommodations and the convenience of staying right where the conference is being held. If this is something you're interested in, click https://stj.formstack.com/forms/2600 .

We also understand that others would prefer to stay in a nearby hotel. We're currently working out details for that option and expect to have specific information next week.

At the moment, the St. John's housing system isn't set up to take payment info, but you can register now and someone will contact you for those details later. For any questions, comments, or concerns regarding your registration and housing submission form, please feel free to reach out to napolitt@stjohns.edu or phone (718) 990-8038.

HOPE 2020 will be held from July 31st to August 2nd, 2020 at St. John's University in Queens, New York City. Tickets are currently available at https://store.2600.com/products/tickets-to-hope-2020-third-batch .

Jan 13, 2020 -- HOPE Ticket Sales Open! Some Important Reminders

Ticket sales to HOPE 2020 officially opened today. The response has been great so far and a lot of people seem really excited by the new venue and all of the possibilities ahead of us. You can get tickets at https://store.2600.com/products/tickets-to-hope-2020-third-batch .

Some important dates ahead:

Wednesday, January 15 - we will have info on housing options onsite at our new venue.

Thursday, January 16 - speaker submissions will officially open.

Next week - offsite hotel options will start being announced.

Other calls for participation will be going out in the days and weeks ahead. Remember, this event is defined by our attendees. Almost anything is possible, as we have more freedom and flexibility than ever before, so this can be a truly historic hacker event unlike any seen before.

HOPE 2020 will take place at St. John's University in Queens, New York City from July 31st to August 2nd, 2020.