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CompSoc Newsletter Week 2!
by Declan Osborne 20 Oct '25

20 Oct '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Michaelmas Term Week 2 Newsletter Competitive Programming, Talks Galore, a Night of Hot Chocolate and More! Welcome Back, Accomplices, Hello again! Ready for your weekly CompSoc? As we enter Week 2, we're not slowing down, with six new events this week for your delectation! This Monday, we're in the Undergraduate Social Area again for our first competitive programming contest of the term! Come along at 7:30pm to put your newfound skills to the test. On Tuesday, we have the first of our two talks this week — a talk from our sponsors at Jane Street! Come along at 6pm in Lecture Theatre B(ill Roscoe) for a surely enlightening talk. For Wednesday, we have a calm evening in sight; we'll be down to Knoops from 6-7pm for a spell of hot chocolate, chatter and relaxation. On Thursday, we have the first of four student talks this term! Come along to Lecture Theatre A from 5-6pm for a promising talk on functional programming — pizza after! We'll be closing off The Week in CompSoc on Saturday with a double billing. First, we'll be kicking off our Learn to Code sessions this term from 5:30-6:30pm at Jesus College! Afterwards, we're headed down to the Undergraduate Social Area once more for a capture-the-flag night from 7pm. Fun times guaranteed! — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: In today's era of Chromium dominance, it's easy to forget that the browser wars used to be a fiercely fought thing. And if any company knew how to fight, it was Microsoft. In 2003, their Internet Explorer browser held a mind-boggling 94% of market share, being pushed heavily as a hard-to-remove component of Windows. They weren't going to just sit back on their laurels as competitors began to close in, though. That same year, Opera Software announced that Microsoft's MSN website was serving users using Opera 7 a faulty CSS stylesheet. There was no reason for this — the Opera stylesheet didn't work in IE and IE's stylesheet worked fine in Opera. Microsoft had already tried to bar non-IE users from MSN previously in October 2001, backing down in the face of outrage. Sensing sabotage, Opera struck back with Opera 7.04 Bork Edition, which turned the MSN website into gibberish mimicking the Swedish Chef character. Microsoft soon backed down again, changing the MSN site to serve Opera 7 users with a functional stylesheet. Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2s6/hzw/svg/MT25%20Termcar…] [Events] Competitive Programming: Second Week Contest [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/dq9/u5r/ymk/PNG%20Competit…] After learning all about competitive programming in last week's bootcamp, it's time to put your skills to the test! Join us this Monday, as we prepare to do battle in the first competitive programming contest of the term. We'll be in the Department's Undergraduate Social Area from 7:30-9:30pm working through tricky problems. Whether you're a novice or an expert, come along and join in! When: 7:30-9:30pm, Monday 20th October Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/3PiiSkb15 Jane Street: A Sponsor Talk [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/khp/mms/ign/PNG%20Jane%20S…] This Tuesday, we have our first sponsor talk of the year! We'll be joined this week by our sponsors at Jane Street in the Department's Bill Roscoe Lecture Theatre for a surely scintillating talk. If you're interested in Jane Street's work or are thinking about careers, make sure to come along at 6pm! When: 6pm, Tuesday 21st October Where: Lecture Theatre B(ill Roscoe), Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/3Nvi0Rcbk Hot Chocolate Evening [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/e8v/3cc/tha/PNG%20Hot%20Ch…] Amongst the hurly-burly of talks and contests, take a moment to relax with us this Wednesday! We'll be headed down to Knoops on Wednesday evening to sip some free hot chocolate and converse from 6-7pm. If you fancy a more chilled out social, come along and join us! When: 6-7pm, Wednesday 22nd October Where: Knoops 21 Turl St, Oxford OX1 3DH Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/1RdOxCplii A Talk on Functional Programming [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/f1p/xvq/jg3/PNG%20Function…] This Thursday, we're kicking off our array of student talks this term with an ever-relevant topic — functional programming! Join us this week in the Department's Lecture Theatre A from 5-6pm for a fascinating talk, after which we'll enjoy the classic CompSoc staple of free pizza. Don't miss it! When: 5-6pm, Thursday 23rd October Where: Lecture Theatre A, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/9tq5876Va Learn to Code: First Session [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/zav/ek2/v4t/PNG%20Learn%20…] Bewildered at the very idea of computer science? Longing to learn how to give your computer commands? Well, the first session of our Learn to Code series is just for you! This Saturday, we'll be kicking off our six-session series, starting off with the very basics of coding in the Python programming language and slowly working our way up. If you're interested in learning to code, join us from 5:30-6:30pm at Jesus College — anyone is welcome! When: 5:30-6:30pm, Saturday 25th October Where: Jesus College Turl St, Oxford OX1 3DW Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/4zDQuvbAg Capture-the-Flag Night [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/9y6/piu/w79/PNG%20CTF%20Ni…] After our introductory session last week, now's the chance to put your newfound knowledge into action! This Saturday, we'll be holding a capture-the-flag cybersecurity contest in collaboration with TryHackMe. Whether you're new or experienced, come along to the Undergraduate Social Area from 7pm and join in! We'll also have the classic hallmarks of a Saturday Social... free pizza and snacks galore. When: 7pm, Saturday 25th October Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6T4ZEK6HZ [And More...] TPP at Careers in Computing Fair Our sponsors at TPP will be at the University's Careers in Computing Fair this month! If you're interested in a career with TPP, come along to the Maths Institute on Thursday 30th October! When: 3-5pm, Thursday 30th October Where: Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building Woodstock Rd, Oxford OX2 6GG Perplexity Pro A message from our sponsors at Perplexity: Students get free Perplexity Pro and exclusive student features like flashcards and quizzes when you verify your student status. Sign up at perplexity.ai/students Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/utn/wzf/o3c/Incident.io%20…] [TPP] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. [Designed with BEE]<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…> Designed with BEE<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…>

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Mid-Week CompSoc Opportunities!
by Declan Osborne 17 Oct '25

17 Oct '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] Mid-Week Opportunities QuantCo Dinner, LLM Talk and More! Salutations, Familiar One, Bet you didn't expect to see us again so soon! We have several mid-week opportunities for your perusal, including events from sponsors and talks! Today, the Oxford AI Safety Initiative will be hosting a talk from Google DeepMind's Neel Nanda on the internal workings of LLMs! Come along to the Department's Lecture Theatre B(ill Roscoe) from 6:30pm for a talk promising to be fascinating, followed by free pizza. Next Wednesday, our sponsors at QuantCo are holding an exclusive event for CompSoc members only — a free dinner! If you're interested in free food and networking with an eye to a future career, check out the details below. Sign ups close this Saturday, so be quick! Finally, TPP will be at the University's Careers in Computing Fair this month! If you're interested in a career, see below for more details. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: You've had your fact for the week. Come back on Sunday! Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] QuantCo Dinner with CompSoc — Sign Up Now! [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/3e3/4u8/moi/Oxford_CompSoc…] Next Wednesday, we have an exclusive opportunity to bring you from our sponsors at QuantCo — a free dinner! You'll have the opportunity to network with QuantCo developers, consider future career options and enjoy free food. If you're interested, make sure to sign up now! Spaces are limited and registration closes this Saturday! When: Wednesday 22nd October Sign up here by 18th October: https://jobs.lever.co/quantco-/bdb766e9-fe6e-4493-b113-fc230952f324 Talk: What We Do and Don't Understand About What Happens Inside Language Models [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/vi6/not/lg8/What%20we%20do…] Our friends at the Oxford AI Safety Initiative bring to you a promising (and timely) talk this Friday... all about language models! From 6:30pm, Google DeepMind's Head of Mechanistic Interpretability Neel Nanda will be discussing what we do and don't understand about what goes on inside language models. Afterwards, you can enjoy your fair share of free pizza. Speaker Bio: Neel runs the mechanistic interpretability team at Google DeepMind. Prior to this, he was an independent researcher, and did mechanistic interpretability research at Anthropic under Chris Olah. Neel is excited about helping build the mechanistic interpretability community and created the TransformerLens library, does far too much mentoring, and enjoys making educational materials. When: 6:30pm, Friday 17th October Where: Lecture Theatre B(ill Roscoe), Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG<https://fb.me/e/6bas8I43I> TPP at Careers in Computing Fair Our sponsors at TPP will be at the University's Careers in Computing Fair this month! If you're interested in a career with TPP, come along to the Maths Institute on Thursday 30th October! When: 3-5:30pm, Thursday 30th October Where: Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building Woodstock Rd, Oxford OX2 6GG [And More...] Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/utn/wzf/o3c/Incident.io%20…] [TPP] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. [Designed with BEE]<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…> Designed with BEE<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…>

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CompSoc Newsletter Week 1!
by Declan Osborne 11 Oct '25

11 Oct '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Michaelmas Term Week 1 Newsletter Welcomings, a Game Night, Competitive Programming and More! Greetings, Unwitting Victims, Welcome, one and all, to CompSoc! Whether you're a new or returning member, we have a swathe of events for all which we hope you'll enjoy this term. We'll be sending newsletters just like this one every week with the latest on our scheduled events, so watch your inbox! Curiously for a Week 1 newsletter, our events begin this Saturday (today!) with our traditional game night! Head on down to the Department of Computer Science's Undergraduate Social Area at 7pm to play a bonanza of games, meet new people and, most crucially, enjoy our ample free pizza and snacks. As the term begins, we'll be back in the Undergraduate Social Area on Monday for the first of our competitive programming bootcamps! If you're interested in battling against your peers but don't have any competitive programming experience, come along at 7:30pm! Are you a new member? If so, our welcome social is just for you (and everyone else, too)! On Thursday, we'll be headed down to Oxo Bar from 7-9pm for an evening of free drinks and scintillating conversation! After all that, we'll wrap up the week in the Department with a double billing — on Saturday, we'll start off with an introduction to capture-the-flag contests from 5-7pm, and finish off with pizza and a movie night from 7pm. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: Back in the heady days of the early World Wide Web, one company in 1999 sought to capitalise on a growing desire to have home Internet access. Startup Netpliance introduced the i-Opener, a $99 loss-leading computer designed solely to connect to Netpliance's own subscription-based Internet service, intended to be the company's profit-making venture. It even featured a gimmick CompSoc members would've loved — a key to quickly order pizza! There was, however, one snag. As a loss leader, the i-Opener was designed largely with off-the-shelf components, and was in fact a standard PC under the hood. As such, enterprising users quickly found ways to bypass the preinstalled operating system and get a Windows or Linux PC for $99 which should have cost between $300 and $400. Sales of the i-Opener surged without the subscriptions to match, wiping out the product's profitability and pushing Netpliance out of the Internet device market for good. Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] [cid:image005.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] [Events] Saturday Social: Game Night [cid:image007.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] Let's kick off the new academic year in the only way CompSoc knows how — a classic game night! Join us this Saturday, when we'll be in the Department of Computer Science's Undergraduate Social Area* from 7pm onwards to play a smorgasbord of games. Whether you're a Cards Against Humanity fan, a Mario Kart crazy or simply someone with a hankering for plenty of free pizza, make sure to come along! * If this is your first CompSoc event, you can find the Undergraduate Social Area (UGSA) by entering the Department's reception, heading through the card-locked door to the left, turning immediately left again through the door into the staircase, going downstairs, and then taking a left and a right. If you're not a CS student or you get lost, don't worry — we'll be around to let people in and show the way! When: 7pm, Saturday 11th October Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5u0ilmM5q Competitive Programming: Bootcamp [cid:image008.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] Before going to head to head with friends, it's time to go over the basics! Join us this Monday for the first competitive programming event of the new academic year — our bootcamp! We'll be in the Department's Undergraduate Social Area from 7:30-9:30pm to get to grips with competitive programming contests ahead of our first contest of the term next week. When: 7:30-9:30pm, Monday 12th October Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6bas8I43I Welcome Social [cid:image009.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] Feeling stressed out already on day four of the new academic year? New and old members alike are invited to come and relax this Thursday at our welcome social! From 7-9pm, we'll be kicking back and relaxing at Oxo Bar with free drinks on CompSoc! Come along and meet new faces amongst lively conversation! When: 7-9pm, Thursday 16th October Where: Oxo Bar 48 George St, Oxford OX1 2AQ Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5fdk8eJAH Capture-the-Flag Introduction [cid:image010.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] Fancy dipping your toes into the world of cybersecurity challenges? Join us this Saturday, when we'll be in the Department of Computer Science from 5-7pm for an enlightening introduction to the realm of capture-the-flag contests, ahead of several CTF events this term. When: 5-7pm, Saturday 18th October Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/4zDQuvbAg Saturday Social: Movie Night [cid:image011.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] It's the end of the week at last, and what better way to relax than with a movie? This Saturday, we're headed down to the Department's Undergraduate Social Area at 7pm for a good old movie night — we'll be watching a film of your choice, accompanied with the usual CompSoc trimmings of free snacks and pizza. You won't want to miss it! When: 7pm, Saturday 18th October Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/2YZNcjPEP [And More...] TPP at Careers Fair Our sponsors at TPP will be attending the University's Careers Fair today — pop by if you're interested in pursuing a career at TPP! Perplexity Pro A message from our sponsors at Perplexity: Students get free Perplexity Pro and exclusive student features like flashcards and quizzes when you verify your student status. Sign up at perplexity.ai/students Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram]<https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord]<https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube]<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok]<https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net<mailto:committee@ox.compsoc.net> [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [Citadel] [cid:image023.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] [cid:image024.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] [cid:image025.png@01DC3A63.CA4EAFC0] [TPP] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. [Designed with BEE]<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…> Designed with BEE<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…>

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Event Cancellation: Competitive Programming
by Declan Osborne 09 Jun '25

09 Jun '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] Event Cancellation Competitive Programming Hello Again, Familiar One, Here we are again. I regret to inform you that we won't be running our scheduled competitive programming session today due to the exam season – apologies for any inconvenience caused. It has now been struck from the official record. We shall not speak of it again. There is now, and only ever was, one event this week. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: I'm lazy. Go away. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. [Designed with BEE]<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…> Designed with BEE<https://www.designedwithbee.com/?utm_source=editor&utm_medium=bee_pro&utm_c…>

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CompSoc Newsletter Week 7!
by Declan Osborne 08 Jun '25

08 Jun '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Trinity Term Week 7 Newsletter Competitive Programming and a Termly General Meeting! Salut, Battle-Hardened Veteran, Here we are at last – Week 7! While the actual term has one more week of life, we have our final two events this week before wrapping up for the end of the year and going home to put our feet up. We'll kick the week off in style with our final competitive programming contest of the term! On Monday, we'll be in the Undergraduate Social Area from 7:30-9:30pm to work our way through some tricky problems. All are welcome, irrespective of skill level! This Saturday, we have no normal Saturday Social – it's time for CompSoc's Termly General Meeting! At 7pm, we'll hear from Committee members on what they've been doing this term, along with their plans for the future, followed by a chance for you to put forward your own motions to shape CompSoc's future. Afterwards, we'll relax with some pizza and snacks! — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: If you were asked what Google's first hardware product was, you might guess the first Chromebook, or perhaps the first Google Nexus. The answer, it turns out, is neither – the company's first hardware product actually came all the way back in 2002! Named the Google Search Appliance and based off an old Dell server model, the GSA was a rack-mounted server sold to enterprise to index millions of corporate documents at a time for easier searching. The GSA lasted a surprisingly long time (by Google standards), only being finally discontinued in 2019. Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] Competitive Programming: Seventh Week Contest [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/cfd/21z/2w6/PNG%20Competit…] As the term winds down, all good things have to come to an end – including competitive programming! But before we go away for the summer, join us in the Undergraduate Social Area this Monday from 7:30-9:30pm for our last contest of the term. Make sure to come along for one last battle of the wits! When: 7:30-9:30pm, Monday 9th June Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/7xPqKGOP0 Termly General Meeting – Trinity Term 2025 [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/blq/3g4/7m2/PNG%20TT25%20T…] As the end of term and the academic year looms ominously ahead, it's time this Saturday for something a bit different! This week, we'll be down in the Undergraduate Social Area for CompSoc's Termly General Meeting. Kicking off at 7pm, we'll be hearing from Committee members on what they've been wasting their time with this term, along with their plans for the upcoming year. Afterwards, we'll take some time to debate and vote on your motions and proposed by-laws! After we've got the boring bureaucracy out of the way, we'll close out CompSoc's events this year with the usual hallmarks of a Saturday Social. Come along for some free pizza, snacks, chatter and fun! Anyone registered as a CompSoc member is free to submit a motion for consideration! If you're interested, hop over to our Discord server<https://discord.gg/cUZFPG5WZ6> – guidance on how to propose a motion is provided in the #motions forum channel. Please submit all motions by 11:59pm on Friday 13th June. When: 7pm, Saturday 14th June Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5Le8fhGYV [And More...] Trinity Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/1cm/zf4/r9p/TT25%20Termcar…] Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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CompSoc Newsletter Week 6!
by Declan Osborne 01 Jun '25

01 Jun '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Trinity Term Week 6 Newsletter A Talk, Another Talk and a Saturday Social! Hey There, Weary Travellers, As Week 6 begins and the exam season rumbles on, why not take the time to indulge in the delights of a hand-crafted CompSoc newsletter? We've got a talk, another talk and some pizza for you this week! For our first event of the week, we're joined on Tuesday by former Secretary Ashley Jeffs for a more philosophically-minded talk! If you're currently malevolent and lawless, make sure to join us for an introduction to ethics from 5-6pm in the Department's Lecture Theatre A. What's better than a talk from a CompSoc member? Two talks from CompSoc members! On Thursday, we'll be joined by former Vice President Isra Qureshi from 5-6pm in Lecture Theatre A for an intriguing talk on the ethics surrounding sex robots (something I didn't expect to write in a CompSoc newsletter)! What's better than two talks from CompSoc members? Two talks and a Saturday Social! Come along to the Undergraduate Social Area this Saturday as we enjoy some pizza and snacks with friends from 7pm. Finally, we're now looking for motions for our Termly General Meeting, to be held on Saturday 14th June. If you're interested in proposing new by-laws for CompSoc, hop on over to our members' Discord<https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> – instructions on how to propose a motion can be found in the #motions forum channel. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: Did you know that every Windows program includes code written to run on MS-DOS? The Portable Executable format, a descendant of the executable format used by DOS, contains a DOS-compatible file header at the beginning, which is then followed by the PE header used by Windows. This DOS header contains an executable code section – by default, development tools will fill this with a stub which prints 'This program cannot be run in DOS mode.' under DOS. The /stub argument to Microsoft's linker, however, allows developers to place any valid DOS code in the header. This feature was actually used in the 90s; the installer binary for Windows 98 can be run within DOS or Windows 95, running different programs on each platform! Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] An Introduction to Ethics: A Talk with Ashley Jeffs [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/vd2/0zu/q4d/PNG%20Ashley%2…] We kick off this week with a more philosophically-minded talk! We'll be joined this Tuesday from 5-6pm by former CompSoc Secretary Ashley Jeffs for an introduction to ethics. We'll hear a quick and digestible intro to the themes of ethical theory, the popular moral frameworks, and relevant areas for computer scientists (and no, it's not just AI alignment!). When: 5-6pm, Tuesday 3rd June Where: Lecture Theatre A, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/4N5kEWRKH The Ethics of Sex Robots: A Talk with Isra Qureshi [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/9ry/x9y/cue/PNG%20Isra%20Q…] As Week 6 rolls on, we have our second talk from a CompSoc member! Join us on Thursday, when former CompSoc Vice President Isra Qureshi will be with us in Lecture Theatre A from 5-6pm to discuss the ethics of sex robots. We'll be exploring the discussions around the ethics of sex robots: the good, the bad, the mostly bad. Then, we'll discuss a strong argument against the use of sex robots. When: 5-6pm, Thursday 5th June Where: Lecture Theatre A, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/H6C6mHcFI Saturday Social [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/8xw/rsr/8m9/PNG%20Saturday…] After a triad consisting of a quiz night, a movie night and a games night, we're going back to basics – it's time for a standard Saturday Social! This Saturday, we'll be back in the Undergraduate Social Area for the standard fare of pizza, snacks and fun from 7pm onwards. When: 7pm, Saturday 7th June Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/7FOJ9Koqz [And More...] Trinity Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/1cm/zf4/r9p/TT25%20Termcar…] Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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CompSoc Newsletter Week 5!
by Declan Osborne 25 May '25

25 May '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Trinity Term Week 5 Newsletter Competitive Programming, Studying, Games and the End... of Term? Bonjour, Mes Amis, It's time for Week 5, and time for the term to go out with a blast! Before we wind down for exams, we have four events new and old to bring you this week. To kick the week off, we're down in the Undergraduate Social Area on Monday for a good old session of Competitive Programming! Make sure to join us at 7:30pm for our third contest of the term. This Tuesday, it's time to be a little more studious – we'll be getting together for a study social! Join us at Common Ground from 2-4pm, where we'll be studying together over a hot cup. On Friday, we'll be holding our end-of-term social (yes, you read that correctly)! We'll be at Oxo Bar from 7-9pm to see out the fun part of the term with free drinks and lively chatter. This was previously scheduled for Friday last week. Finally, to wrap up the week, we'll be in the Undergraduate Social Area on Saturday for a classic Saturday Social – a games night! Come along from 7pm to play some games with friends – or just eat pizza, if that's more your thing. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: Although Linux distributions generally mention only Linux by name in branding, most common distributions ship with GNU userland utilities to provide applications for users – hence the proliferation of the GNU/Linux terminology. The Free Software Foundation didn't always rely on Linux as a kernel for the GNU project, however. Like Minix, GNU Hurd is a Unix-like microkernel-based project, consisting of a collection of servers on top of the Mach microkernel. Some common Linux distributions also exist as GNU Hurd distributions, including Debian. Hurd, however, has stagnated since its inception in 1990, and has been largely superseded in purpose by the Linux project. Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] Competitive Programming: Fifth Week Contest [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/eo3/r29/4le/PNG%20Competit…] We're back this week for the third of our Competitive Programming contests this term! Join us this Monday in the Undergraduate Social Area, where we'll be working our way through problems in the pursuit of prizes from 7:30-9:30pm. Everyone is welcome – feel free to come along, whether it's your first time or your hundredth! When: 7:30-9:30pm, Monday 26th May Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6ziCEKXYR Cafe Study Social at Common Ground [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/n6t/1vg/76t/PNG%20Common%2…] As the spectre of exams looms over (almost) all, it's time to pick up a pen and get studying! This Tuesday, we'll be taking a moment to get some work and revision done over a nice hot beverage. We'll be at the Common Ground Cafe from 2-4pm – come along for some quiet study time with a hot drink on us! When: 2-4pm, Tuesday 27th May Where: Common Ground Cafe 37-38 Little Clarendon St, Oxford OX1 2HF Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/8vFdCUhS3 End of Term Social [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/h9g/3wx/mql/PNG%20End%20of…] As we pass the term's halfway point, it's time for our end-of-term social! Join us on Friday, when we'll be at Oxo Bar to enjoy some beverages and engaging in lively conversation to see out the fun part of the term as exams approach. We'll be around from 7-9pm – come along to chat with friends or to grab a free drink on us! This event was previously scheduled for Friday of Week 4, but will now be held this week. When: 7-9pm, Friday 30th May Where: Oxo Bar 48 George St, Oxford OX1 2AQ Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/dCkI7ILed Saturday Social: Games Night [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/iux/j0v/u7s/PNG%20Games%20…] We're back this week for a Saturday Social with a classic theme! This Saturday, we'll be down in the Undergraduate Social Area from 7pm onwards for a games night. Join us as we play games with friends, while tucking into some tasty pizza and snacks as always. When: 7pm, Saturday 31st May Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6s5LVD0CF [And More...] Trinity Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/1cm/zf4/r9p/TT25%20Termcar…] Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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CompSoc Newsletter Week 4!
by Declan Osborne 19 May '25

19 May '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Trinity Term Week 4 Newsletter Ice Cream and Movies! Salutations, Wise Ones, Welcome to Week 4! Almost halfway through already – whew! As the exam season gets into gear and the term winds down, we come bearing some new events for your perusal. This Wednesday, we'll be taking some of the heat out of the term with a frosty treat in our ice cream social! We'll be at George and Danver's on St Aldates from 2pm to enjoy some ice cream amid the swelling spring heat. For our weekly social on Saturday, we'll be lounging back to enjoy a film! Join us in the Undergraduate Social Area as usual from 7pm to indulge in movies, pizza and snacks! A final note: our end-of-term social was originally scheduled for this week, but has now been moved – we hope to hold it next week. Stay tuned for further details! — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: Let's take a step to the past and look at the things that never were – or the thing that never was. In the 80s, following the introduction of the IBM PC, Microsoft's Disk Operating System (DOS) rapidly became dominant within the home computing market. DOS, however, was incredibly rudimentary – there was no multitasking to speak of and memory was limited to 640 KB. Windows, at this time a thin layer over DOS, was plagued by similar issues, along with rudimentary cooperative multitasking allowing programs to hang the entire system. To solve the DOS dilemma, Microsoft and IBM joined forces to create Operating System/2. Utilising the Intel 286's protected mode for memory, multiple processes could run simultaneously, and the Intel 386 with 32-bit modes allowed OS/2 to break through the 640 KB memory limit. The dream wasn't to be, however – Microsoft broke away from the partnership to continue developing Windows, bringing Windows 95 to market in 1995 with preemptive multitasking, a 32-bit clean API and lower hardware requirements than the ailing OS/2, which lived on only in embedded systems. Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] Ice Cream Social [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/mdi/3nr/px1/PNG%20Ice%20Cr…] This week, we're venturing out once more in pursuit of frozen treats! This Wednesday, we'll be headed down to George and Danver's for an ice cream social. Join us from 2-3pm as we take the heat out of the term with some free ice cream and lively chatter. When: 2-3pm, Wednesday 21st May Where: George and Danver 94 St Aldates, Oxford OX1 1BT Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/86PnrQhKv Saturday Social: Movie Night [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/fef/hi0/08d/PNG%20Movie%20…] As Saturday rolls around, it's time to hit pause on the week and hit play on the weekend! For this week's Saturday Social, we'll be indulging in a spot of culture with a movie night. Join us in the Undergraduate Social Area at 7pm this Saturday as we kick back to enjoy a movie with the customary culinary delights of pizza and snacks. When: 7pm, Saturday 24th May Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6EVz0svDo [And More...] Trinity Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/1cm/zf4/r9p/TT25%20Termcar…] Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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CompSoc Newsletter Week 3!
by Declan Osborne 11 May '25

11 May '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Trinity Term Week 3 Newsletter Competitive Programming, Picnics and Quizzes! Guten Tag, Loyal Members, Here we are in Week 3, and it's time for a set of... you guessed it – new events! On Monday, we're back for this term's second instalment of our Competitive Programming sessions! Make sure to come along to the Undergraduate Social Area at 7:30pm for a fierce battle between friends, aided and abetted by pizza. The next day, we'll be with the Invariants to touch grass yet again (gasp) with an artsy jaunt outside! Join us on Tuesday at 3pm, when we'll be heading down to the Christ Church Meadow for an arts and crafts picnic. This event was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but has moved. For this Saturday's social, it's time for a battle of the wits – you'll have the chance to face off again in our quiz night! If you fancy puzzling questions and pizza, join us in the Undergraduate Social Area at 7pmas usual. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: On Windows, it's the Windows key, and on macOS, it's the Command key. However, if you're a free software aficionado, you probably know it as the Super key. What you may not know, however, is where that name comes from. The Super key gained its name from a keyboard employed for use with Lisp machines at MIT through the 1970s known as the space-cadet keyboard<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-cadet_keyboard#/media/File:Space-cadet.…>. The rather funky keyboard also bore a Meta key, a Hyper key and a selection of Greek characters! Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] Competitive Programming: Third Week Contest [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/oij/nmj/g2w/PNG%20Competit…] On this Monday, we'll be in the Department of Computer Science for a programming contest where vibes won't help you! Join us at 7:30pm and battle your way through challenging problems for the greatest prize of all – pride and accomplishment. We'll also, of course, supply you with the prerequisite pizza. When: 7:30pm, Monday 12th May Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6wXQw8iOk Arts and Crafts Picnic [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/m7z/c3s/xpm/PNG%20Arts%20a…] This week, we're touching grass again (for real this time)! On Tuesday, we'll be heading down with the Invariants to Christ Church's Meadow for an event with a splash and a dollop of creativity – an arts and crafts picnic! Join us between 3-4:30pm for a lighter social with friends. This event was originally scheduled for Wednesday on our termcard, but has been moved to Tuesday. When: 3-4:30pm, Tuesday 13th May Where: The Meadow, Christ Church St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 4JF Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5rW5vjcWf<https://fb.me/e/3vvqDcOyp> Saturday Social: Quiz Night [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/bd1/nie/s18/PNG%20Quiz%20N…] As is customary, we're back this week with yet another Saturday Social – and this time we're putting your wits to the test! Join us this Saturday, where we'll be enjoying some quiz questions from 7pm. As ever, pizza and snacks are guaranteed – so even if your brain's feeling a bit rusty, come along for the free food! When: 7pm, Saturday 17th May Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6dIXWDwjj [And More...] Job Opportunity at TPP A job opportunity from our sponsors at TPP: We are looking for someone who is eager to develop their commercial awareness and really add value to TPP’s UK and international opportunities. You will be responsible for researching the legal and commercial landscape of new markets both in the UK and abroad, identifying and communicating risks of those opportunities and establishing corporate structures to deliver the business. You will also be involved in preparing bids for new contracts, including national frameworks and high value contracts. As well as working on new opportunities you will be responsible for reviewing company policies to make sure they stay relevant and will also manage contract performance to ensure the company is meeting customer expectations. You will frequently conduct meetings with key stakeholders to negotiate contract terms and variations and subsequently lead on the delivery of those agreements, working closely with all teams within the company. No previous experience is required and training is on-the-job, but you will require an eye for detail and excellent communication skills. To apply, please visit https://tpp-careers.com/roles/graduate-software-developer/ Job Opportunity: Full Stack Developer at the Oxford Paediatrics Dept. The University of Oxford's Department of Paediatrics are looking to hire a full-stack software developer to work within the Rare Genetic Disorders Research Group! The group aims to identify, understand, and develop therapies for rare genetic disorders. The group is primarily computational but partners with multiple international labs (including Harvard, Yale, UC San Francisco [UCSF], and the New York Genome Center) to co-design experiments and generate novel datasets, including exome/genome sequencing of hundreds of thousands of individuals, large-scale single-cell data from primary human tissues, spatial transcriptomic data, and experimental genomic screens. For more information, visit this webpage<https://my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.display_form?p_c…>. Trinity Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/1cm/zf4/r9p/TT25%20Termcar…] Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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CompSoc Newsletter Week 2!
by Declan Osborne 05 May '25

05 May '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Trinity Term Week 2 Newsletter Bubble Tea, Talks and More! Greetings, Eventgoers, As Week 1 goes by, Week 2 rolls into place, bearing all-new events! We have a variety of socials and talks to pique your interest, starting with... ...our bubble tea social this Tuesday! Join us at Fantastea between 3-4pm for a calmer social, with scrumptious drinks and fun conversation. On Thursday, we'll be joined by three experts for something new – a cybersecurity policy panel! We'll be at the Department of Computer Science at 5pm with Peter Stephens, Dr. Mel Garson and Warda Hassan for a discussion on cybersecurity policy. For Friday, CompSoc and the Invariants will be hearing from Peter Schwabe on the topic of post-quantum cryptography! Join us at 5pm in the Maths Institute for an intriguing talk on the future of encryption. On Saturday, we'll be back in the Undergraduate Social Area for a classic Saturday Social – an extravaganza of pizza and snacks! If you want an opportunity to kick back and relax, make sure to come along! Finally, a termcard update: next week's arts and crafts picnic will now be held on Tuesday 13th May instead of Wednesday 14th May. All else remains the same – apologies for the inconvenience! — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: You're probably familiar with the ubiquitous SQLite relational database library, now bundled with everything from Windows to Audacity. What you may not know, however, is that the SQLite project rolls its own version control system. Since 2009, SQLite's source has been hosted on Fossil, a source control system which itself relies upon a SQLite database to guarantee atomicity of transactions. Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up! [Be a member]<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/> or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/<https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/?fbclid=IwAR1Oe_vwCudNvU…> [Events] Bubble Tea Social [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/sko/khc/xzf/PNG%20Bubble%2…] This Tuesday, we'll be enjoying a slightly calmer social. Come and join us at Fantastea between 3-4pm where we'll be sipping some bubble tea and indulging in light conversation. If you fancy a break from studying or just want some free bubble tea, make sure to come along! When: 3-4pm, Tuesday 6th May Where: Fantastea 36 High St, Oxford OX1 4AN Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/8drBTgBW8 Cybersecurity Policy Panel [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/etn/gqo/t3i/PNG%20Cybersec…] This week, we'll be joined by three experts on Thursday to explore the realm of cybersecurity policy. We'll have a 45-minute discussion at 5pm about cybersecurity policy with Peter Stephens, Dr. Mel Garson, and Warda Hassan. We'll be talking about recent developments in the field from the perspective of tech companies, governments, and international organisations. We'll also discuss how the speakers came to work on cybersecurity policy, and their advice for students looking to enter a career in the field. When: 5pm, Thursday 8th May Where: Lecture Theatre A, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5lyAxuVOb<https://fb.me/e/3vvqDcOyp> The Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/0n0/mfy/maf/PNG%20Post-Qua…] We'll be joined by the Invariants this Friday for another talk – this time on the topic of cryptography! From 5pm, we'll be joined by Peter Schwabe to discuss the area of cryptography in a future where large-scale quantum computers exist and commonplace asymmetric encryption standards are broken, while looking at how we can prepare for that day in advance. Abstract: Already since Shor's seminal paper from 1994 we know that once physicists and quantum engineers are able to build a large universal quantum computer, our current generation of asymmetric cryptography will be broken. To be ready for the day when this happens, the world is currently moving to a new generation of cryptography: so called post-quantum cryptography. This migration was majorly facilitated and driven by a multi-year open standardization effort by the US American National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), which selected 4 algorithms for standardization in 2022. Three standards were published in 2024, two for signature schemes and one, ML-KEM, for key encapsulation. ML-KEM is securing billions of Internet connections per day already now. In my talk I will give an overview of the design of this algorithm and the path through standardization to ongoing deployment. When: 5pm, Friday 9th May Where: Lecture Theatre L1, Mathematical Institute Andrew Wiles Building, Woodstock Rd, Oxford OX2 6GG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/3p1sVO3aK Saturday Social [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/od0/vro/5da/PNG%20Saturday…] After we heard your presentations last week, we're going back for a classic Saturday Social. Join us this Saturday at 7pm, where we'll be down in the Undergraduate Social Area to forget about studies and indulge in classic CompSoc cuisine (read: pizza and snacks), along with fun chatter and hijinks. When: 7pm, Saturday 10th May Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/4U5zyqJjH [And More...] Trinity Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/1cm/zf4/r9p/TT25%20Termcar…] Check Out OxWoCS! Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS. [Follow Us] [Web Site]<https://ox.compsoc.net/> [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/oxcompsoc/> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/ox.compsoc/> [Discord] <https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdzpxzUZ2i84x5WyVR36Cg> [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@ox.compsoc.net> or, contact us at committee(a)ox.compsoc.net [Our Sponsors] [Jane Street] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/11s/ilc/mex/Quantco_1.png] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/2x2/kvw/7vb/qrt%20white%20…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [TPP] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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