Community Support Fund

In a heartening stride towards fostering community enrichment and combating isolation, Tog Hackerspace has been awarded a one-off fund under the Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, overseen by the Dublin City Council. This grant comes as a resounding endorsement of Tog Hackerspace’s commitment to providing a safe haven for individuals of all walks of life to connect, create, and learn together. At its core, this grant will sustain our cherished free weekly open nights, amplifying their impact for the betterment of the community.

Empowering Connection: In a world where isolation can creep into the lives of the most vulnerable, Tog Hackerspace’s open nights stand as beacons of inclusion and togetherness. Our open nights have long served as a vital resource for those susceptible to feelings of isolation, including the elderly, the long-term unemployed, and new communities seeking a sense of belonging. Stepping beyond the confines of conventional leisure activities like sports or music, Tog Hackerspace provides a unique outlet for individuals drawn to the allure of creation and collaboration.

A Creative Haven: Tog Hackerspace is more than a venue; it’s a vibrant hub where passion meets purpose. As we stand on the cusp of an era where creativity and innovation are paramount, our space fills a niche that transcends the ordinary. It’s a space where people converge not to watch but to participate, where they delve into the art of making alongside kindred spirits. The grant will facilitate the continuation of these gatherings, ensuring that this haven for creative expression remains accessible to all.

The Heart of Peer-to-Peer Learning: At Tog Hackerspace, we believe that the truest form of learning is that which is shared. Our group nights, thoughtfully designed around an array of themes, encapsulate this ethos. Our approach champions a low barrier to entry, inviting anyone with a spark of curiosity to drop by and be part of something bigger. The peer-to-peer model we employ provides an environment where skills and knowledge are exchanged freely, bolstering a sense of community and empowerment.

Biweekly Rhythms of Connection: The grant’s impact will reverberate through our events, which operate on a biweekly cycle. These events serve as not just gatherings, but as touchpoints that foster ongoing relationships and collaborations. With the newfound resources at our disposal, we’re poised to elevate the quality of these experiences, ensuring that each gathering is a meaningful step towards building lasting connections.

As we look ahead to the months ahead, buoyed by the support of the Community Enhancement Programme and Dublin City Council, Tog Hackerspace stands ready to make a lasting difference. With the grant firmly in place, we’re poised to uphold the values of inclusivity, creativity, and shared knowledge. Tog Hackerspace’s open nights will continue to be a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives, where innovation flourishes and the joy of connection knows no bounds.

  • Monday Electronics Night
  • Wednesday Maker Night
  • Thursday Lockpicking

Check out our calendar or meetup page.

We would like to thank the Department of Rural and Community Development, Dublin City LCDC and Dublin City Council for this grant.

Second Life For Solar Panels

We were fortunate enough to receive a generous donation of small solar panels from UTS Technologies LTD, thanks to their commitment to embracing the principles of the circular economy. As ardent supporters of reuse, repair, and sustainable practices, we were thrilled to learn that these solar panels, instead of being discarded, were seeking a second life in a community that could truly benefit from them.

Our admiration goes out to UTS Technologies LTD for their forward-thinking approach to seeking out organizations like ours. By repurposing these solar panels, we will embark on numerous exciting projects in the days to come. Their potential is immense, and we are excited to explore the myriad possibilities they offer.

Together, we are forging a path towards a more sustainable future, one that embraces the power of reuse and reinforces the importance of environmental stewardship. Let us continue to inspire others and champion the cause of sustainability through the power of collaboration and innovation.

Hello from Cornell University

A few weeks ago, we started a new event in the space on Monday evenings. This was to follow the Designing with Microcontroller course, ECE4760, from Cornell University. The course is run by Hunter Adams. We got off to a great start with our first two lectures, with up to 18 people attending and great enthusiasm.

Imagine our surprise and amazement when we were contacted by no less than Hunter himself! Hunter was delighted to know that we were following his course.

It’s incredible that such high-quality material is placed online and is free to use. You can follow the course material yourself at your own time and pace. We decided to run the course as a scheduled event, however, to set a pace and to put a bit of mild pressure on ourselves. We plan to run some jams in the space over the coming weeks and months to allow the participants to work together on the course in-person. Now that we are being watched by the lecturer himself, we better keep going! Keep an eye on our schedule and you are welcome to join us on Monday evenings.

Cork Carnival of Science

We will be in Cork in June this year \o/.

The Cork Carnival of Science at Fitzgerald Park features non-stop, family-friendly experiments, interactive activities, garden games, street cuisine and a packed line-up of live demonstrations, big top science shows, hands-on workshops and entertainment.

  • Fitzgerald Park, Cork
  • June 10th & 11th – 11 am till 5 pm

We will be showing a range of interactive games and projects that highlights what can be created in a maker space. Find us on Discover Drive.

Our own Jeffrey Roe will be giving a workshop while we are in Cork. Our friends in Benchspace are hosting a Build Your Own Satellite Ground Station workshop. https://benchspacecork.ie/events/satellite_ground_station_9june/

raSTEM Visit

We welcomed members of the raSTEM project from Croatia. They are on a fact-finding trip to Dublin visiting STEM formal educators and non-formal.

Our own Jeffrey Roe gave them a tour and talk about what we do in Tog.

“raSTEM – Development of STEM in Vukovar”, which is supported by the European Union (European Social Fund/ Office for Associations of the Government of the Republic of Croatia).
The goal of the raSTEM project is to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to popularize STEM through the development of new and innovative STEM content for end users – children, youth and the population in general.

The study visit is to find examples of good practice. The group consists of 20 participants (representatives of project partners: professors, gymnasiums and technical schools from Vukovar, representatives of the University of Osijek, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Information Technologies, City of Vukovar, Vukovar Development Agency And representatives of local CSOs).

Lead partner is of the project is, YPGD MGMD Youth Peace Group Danube, Vukovar (Croatia).
The project is implemented by the partner organizations and institutions: 
1. Vura d.o.o. – Development Agency, Vukovar
2. European House, Vukovar
3. Gymnasium, Vukovar
4. Nikola Tesla Technical Secondary School, Vukovar
5. University of Osijek, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Information Technologies
6. City of Vukovar 

Learn Digital Systems Design Using Microcontrollers with Raspberry Pi Pico at Tog

Join us at Tog to learn about microcontroller design and implementation using the Raspberry Pi Pico from Cornell University by following their Digital Systems Design Using Microcontrollers. The course is perfect for intermediate coders who want to take their skills to the next level.

https://ece4760.github.io/

During this course, we’ll be watching lecture videos together and discussing the content in person. We’ll be scheduling one lecture every two weeks on Monday evenings, starting with the first four lectures. After that, we’ll discuss as a group if we’re ready to proceed with the next four lectures. With 28 lectures in total, there’s plenty of material to explore and learn from.

At Tog, we provide a welcoming environment for learning and collaborating. Our fully equipped electronics lab has lots of components and test gear, and we’ll have tea, coffee, and snacks available to keep you energized throughout the course.

Please note that this is a 3rd level university course, so it may not be suitable for absolute beginners. However, if you’re interested in learning and willing to put in the effort, this course could be a great opportunity for you to develop your skills.

To participate in the course, you’ll need to bring your own laptop and Raspberry Pi Pico. Donations to Tog are welcome but not required.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email or visit our website for more information. We look forward to seeing you at Tog!

Timetable

Monday 24/04/23 7 pm – Lecture 1: Course Introduction
Monday 08/05/23 7:15 pm – Lecture 2: Hardware/software overview
Monday 22/05/23 7:15 pm – Lecture 3: Timers, timer interrupts, SPI
Monday 19/06/23 7:15 pm – Lecture 4: Direct Digital Synthesis