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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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CompSoc Newsletter Week 1!
by Declan Osborne 28 Apr '25

28 Apr '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Trinity Term Week 1 Newsletter Termcard, Competitive Programming, Socials, Talks and More! Welcome Back, Underlings, Welcome back! We're back in Week 1 with a swathe of new events, ranging from our usual Competitive Programming contests and Saturday Socials to brand new events for the calendar. To see the events we have planned for this term, check out our Trinity Term 2025 termcard below. To kick this week off, we'll be in the Undergraduate Social Area on Monday for a spot of Competitive Programming! Come along at 7:30pm for our first contest of the term. On Thursday, we'll be delving into the world of machine learning at 5pm for a talk from our former Competitive Programming Officer, Leo Lee! We'll also be enjoying some lunch beforehand – details are below. Before we head into the weekend, we'll be joined by the Physics Society and the Invariants on Friday for our STEM social! Come along at 8pmat Oxo Bar, where we'll be enjoying free drinks and lively conversation. To close off the week, we'll head back to the Undergraduate Social Area on Saturday at 7pm for our new Presentation Night – we'll be giving you a chance to speak about your interests, and hear other CompSoc members speak! If you'd like to give a presentation, you can sign up here<https://forms.gle/2etPiJTstkGxsVwd8>. Further details are below. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: Since the advent of Windows Subsystem for Linux, developers confined to Windows have had the luxury of being able to use Linux utilities in a Windows environment. This, however, wasn't Microsoft's first foray into implementing a POSIX-compliant environment on Windows – that honour instead goes to the POSIX subsystem in early versions of Windows NT, a feature implemented by Microsoft to bid for US federal government contracts with Windows. Alongside the flagship Win32 subsystem, Windows NT 3.1 through Windows 7 contain a conformant implementation of POSIX.1, which largely covers the standardised C programming interfaces, allowing applications written for the POSIX standard to be built and run as Windows executables. Windows Services for UNIX later included Interix, a package containing common Unix userland utilities for Windows. Support, however, was dropped in Windows 8.1. 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] Trinity Term 2025 Termcard Say hello to our termcard for Trinity! We have a plethora of events new and old, with talks from experts and CompSoc members, a range of socials and the return of Competitive Programming. Most of our socials wrap up after Week 4, leaving you with some much needed time to revise! Stay tuned for the latest details on scheduled events. [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/1cm/zf4/r9p/TT25%20Termcar…] Competitive Programming: First Week Contest [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/7jh/608/5w7/PNG%20Competit…] This Monday, we're kicking off the new term in true CompSoc style with a brand new Competitive Programming contest! Come along at 7:30pm in the Undergraduate Social Area for a classic face-off against fellow members as we battle through tricky problems. When: 7:30-9:30pm, Monday 28th April Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/cu1kmYE2U Equality Saturation in a Real-World Machine Learning Compiler: A Talk from Leo Lee [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/oka/fo8/3fi/PNG%20Leo%20Le…] We kick off our term of talks this week with the Leo Lee Lecture! Join us this Thursday at 5pm in the Department of Computer Science for a talk from esteemed former Competitive Programming Officer Leo Lee, who'll be delving into the topic of machine learning. The talk will be beginner-friendly, so come along if you're interested! We'll also be holding a Leo Lee Lunch in the afternoon before the talk – if you're interested in coming along, reach out to our Talks Officer, Asfur Malik! Abstract: Machine learning (ML) compilers rely on graph-level transformations to enhance the runtime performance of ML models. However, many program transformations are often driven by manually-tuned compiler heuristics, which are quickly rendered obsolete by new hardware and model architectures. Instead of hand-written local heuristics, we propose the use of equality saturation. We replace such heuristics with a more robust global performance model, which accounts for downstream transformations. This paper addresses challenges in applying equality saturation on real-world ML compute graphs and state-of-the-art hardware. By doing so, we present an improved method for discovering effective compositions of graph optimisations. We design an equality saturation pass for the XLA compiler and demonstrate a speedup across CPU and GPU. Beginner friendly - I won't assume any prerequisite knowledge! When: 5-6pm, Thursday 1st May Where: Lecture Theatre A, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/8g6fIO8tW STEM Social with PhysSoc and the Invariants [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/c1z/1xh/l1q/PNG%20STEM%20S…] On Friday, we'll be touching grass for the first event outside of the Department this term! This week, we'll be joined by the Physics Society and the Invariants for a night of intrigue. If free drinks and chatter are your thing, join us between 8-11pm for our STEM social at Oxo Bar! When: 8-11pm, Friday 2nd May Where: Oxo Bar 48 George St, Oxford OX1 2AQ Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5hw4LHI29 Saturday Social: Members' Presentation Night [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/843/41i/r9s/PNG%20Presenta…] This term, we're doing something new – we're letting you talk about your interests! This Saturday, we'll be holding a presentation night for our weekly Saturday Social! Join us between 7-9pm to listen to members' presentations and maybe even give a presentation of your own! If you're interested in giving a presentation, make sure to fill out the short form below. When: 7-9pm, Saturday 3rd May Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/4U5zyqJjH Sign up to present here: https://forms.gle/2etPiJTstkGxsVwd8 [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] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/kh5/aqi/rap/g330.png] [Citadel] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/b5r/5u0/t1h/Untitled%2029.…] [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-Vac Sponsor Opportunities and More
by Declan Osborne 02 Apr '25

02 Apr '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] Mid-Vacation Sponsor Opportunities and More Europe Terminal, Women's Europe Datathon, Jobs and Conferences! Good Morrow, Weary Revellers, I intrude on your well-earned rest briefly to bring you some mid-vac opportunities, delivered to you by our sponsors! Citadel is hosting two competitions which may pique your interest – Europe Terminal and Women's Europe Datathon, with applications closing on 10th April and 5th May respectively. If you're interested, check out the details and sign up below! In addition, we also bring a job opportunity from TPP, who are looking for a Graduate Software Developer! Details are, as always, below. — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: The ever-present x86 architecture officially went 64-bit in 1999, with AMD's extensions to the instruction set adding the ability to switch into 64-bit long mode. These extensions, which became known as AMD64, were later adopted by Intel in their Xeon and Pentium 4 processors. This, however, wasn't Intel's first go at making a 64-bit successor to x86 – that honour is reserved for the Itanium architecture. Itanium introduced an entirely new 64-bit instruction set architecture and included no hardware support for x86 binaries, forcing them to run in emulation. Needless to say, Intel's approach was not a success – slow hardware combined with poor software support and confusing branding to kill Itanium in its youth. At one point, Microsoft shipped three different but similarly named 64-bit releases of Windows XP – one simple port to Itanium, one based on Windows Server 2003 which supported Itanium 2, and, finally, one for AMD64. Surprisingly, however, likely owing to use in industry, Itanium processors weren't fully discontinued until 2021! 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…> Europe Terminal Correlation One, in partnership with Citadel and Citadel Securities, are inviting students across Europe to compete in this Spring season’s Europe Terminal<https://www.citadel.com/careers/students/terminal/?utm_source=correlationon…>, where participants will virtually compete for $15,000USD in our competition! Terminal is an online game where software engineers, computer scientists and coding enthusiasts build an algorithm to play a tower defense game in a team-based setting. Watch this video<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4IvvWmrPX8&t=3s> to see Terminal in action! When: 17th-24th April Where: Virtual Who: Undergraduate students Prizes: $15,000 USD + exclusive recruiting opportunities with Citadel and Citadel Securities Apply here by 10th April: https://www.citadel.com/careers/students/terminal/?utm_source=correlationon… Women's Europe Datathon Hosted by Citadel and Citadel Securities in partnership with Correlation One, this event is open to top students across Europe who identify as women. Our Datathons challenge students from the world's best universities to tackle real-world social challenges in topics such as urban traffic, renewable energy, and education while working through large and complex datasets. Women’s Datathon is a national data science competition, bigger and more exciting than our regional events! Check out this video<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO8T_CDXPxQ> from our first-ever North America Women’s Datathon event in Miami. When: 12th-19th May Where: Virtual Who: Undergraduate and graduate students who identify as women Prizes: $15,000 USD + exclusive recruiting opportunities with Citadel and Citadel Securities Apply here by 5th May: https://www.citadel.com/careers/students/datathons/?utm_source=correlationo… Graduate Software Developer at TPP We’re looking for bright and geeky graduates to join our Software Developer team. No experience is required, and many of our successful applicants have never programmed before. If you think logically and enjoy problem solving, then you have the potential to become a great developer. A career at TPP will challenge you every day. In your first few weeks you will be solving real-world problems as you help to develop software used by healthcare professionals and patients across the world. You’ll be part of an agile development team, working on one of the largest real-time databases in the world. You’ll work on a wide variety of projects, ranging from AI assisting clinicians with early diagnosis of cancer to an iOS app helping patients manage their diabetes. Developers at TPP are involved in the full software cycle, and work closely with all teams across the company to scope out new projects and design, develop and deploy our products. To read what it’s like to work at TPP and to see our full list of benefits, visit www.tpp-careers.com<http://www.tpp-careers.com/> University of Warwick Cybersoc Conference misc0nfig: Warwick Cyber Security Society Conference Run by students, for students featuring talks and workshops from industry leaders. The schedule will be announced closer to the time, but the conference will be ran on several tracks, meaning there may be several talks / workshops going on at once - so make sure you pick wisely! There are no plans to repeat talks, however, recordings may be available. Tickets can now be booked via the Warwick SU website: https://www.warwicksu.com/venues-events/events/61481/26830/ - this does not require you to be a Warwick student! We'd love to have some of you guys there, and we're advertising to other Cybersocs at other universities so grab a ticket soon if you want one! Who: So many people! We will announce names and companies of speakers as they are confirmed - but we do have some big names on the way! When: 10am-5pm, 10th May Where: WMG, University of Warwick 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.…] [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/bry/nst/o71/Bending%20Spoo…] [TPP] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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CompSoc Newsletter Week 8!
by Declan Osborne 09 Mar '25

09 Mar '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Hilary Term Week 8 Newsletter Competitive Programming and Presburger Arithmetic Talk! Good Evening, CompSoc-ers, Here we are at last, at Week 8! As a new committee arrives and the term winds to a close, our schedule begins to settle with two final events. On Monday, we're back for one last Competitive Programming stint! Join us tomorrow at 7:30pm to face off against your friends and foes one last time before the term wraps up. On Thursday at 5pm, we'll be joined by SWAG Officer-elect Hera Brown for an insightful talk on decidable extensions to Presburger arithmetic! Make sure to come along for our final talk of the term. If you missed our Annual General Meeting, you can also find our new committee below. On that note, until next term... toodle-pip! — Declan, CompSoc Secretary Fun Computing Fact: I expect we're all familiar with the video game DOOM and all its incarnations on different platforms (including TypeScript's type system<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mCsluv5FXA>), but you're probably less familiar with the techniques its original 1993 release used to run at a playable speed. Coming at a time before the advent of the 3D graphics accelerator units which would become modern-day GPUs, DOOM had to be rendered in software on the CPUs of the time – slow Intel 386 or 486 processors which predate the Pentium. One of the hardest tasks was making sure walls that shouldn't be seen weren't visible to the player. id Software's developers used a technique new to video games – binary space partitioning, familiar to those who've taken Computer Graphics. DOOM's levels contained binary trees where leaves were convex subsectors, formed by subdividing the map by wall planes. Nodes represent level planes, with two children describing what's in front or behind that plane. These BSP trees could be precomputed, allowing the game to quickly determine rendering order at any point in the level by traversing the tree in reverse. New CompSoc Committee At last night's Annual General Meeting, members elected the new committee to lead CompSoc through 2025/26. Please welcome the following individuals! * President – Raphael Darley (Balliol, he/him) * Vice-President – Bohdan Boholiubskyi (Christ Church, he/him) * Secretary – Declan Osborne (Christ Church, he/him) * Treasurer – Arnav Sharma (New, he/him) * Social Secretaries * Emma Czanner (Hertford) * Pramiti Sriram (Hertford) * Talks Officer – Asfur Malik (Jesus, they/them) * Learn to Code Officer – Zachary Tsang (St Hugh's, he/him) * Competitive Programming Officers * Daohong Liu (Corpus Christi, he/him) * Adhish Kancharla (Magdalen) * CTF Officers * Shane Ong (St Catherine's, he/him) * Louis-Emile Ploix (St Catherine's, he/him) * IT Officer – Barnaby Sharp Foyster (Pembroke, he/him) * SWAG Officers * Hera Brown (St Catherine's, they/them) * Tadayoshi Kamegai (Merton, he/him) * Hackathon Officer – Arjun Khandelwal (Christ Church, he/him) * Legal Counsel – Parul Sinha (Brasenose) 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 – Eighth Week Contest [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/zvj/eb2/l0e/PNG%20Competit…] As Week 8 rolls around, it's time to close out our Competitive Programming sessions for the term! Come along this Monday at 7:30pm as we prepare to face off against friends and battle one last time before the term closes out. Feel free to join us regardless of your skill level – we're open to beginners and experts alike! When: 7:30-9:30pm, Monday 10th March Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/2Qx6f1B75 Decidable Extensions of Presburger Arithmetic [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/31o/kzx/5mt/PNG%20Hera%20B…] We may be days away from the end of term and the bliss of vacation, but it's never too late for a good talk! This Thursday, we'll be joined at 5pm by former President and SWAG Officer-elect Hera Brown for a talk on the topic of decidable extensions to Presburger arithmetic, the first-order logic theory of the natural numbers with addition. Make sure to join us for our last talk of the term! When: 5-6pm, Thursday 13th March Where: Lecture Theatre A, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6mtiwgQYM [And More...] Hilary Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/am3/vub/5k8/HT25%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] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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CompSoc Newsletter Week 7!
by Declan Osborne 04 Mar '25

04 Mar '25

[Oxford CompSoc banner graphic] [6th Week] Hilary Term Week 7 Newsletter End of Term Social, AGM and Coq! Salut, Kindly Friend, Whew, almost at the end of term already! As we step into Week 7, we take a breather with a marginally quieter week than its forebears. On Friday, we'll be holding our End of Term Social! At 8pm, we'll be headed down to Oxo Bar to see out the term in style with free drinks and lively conversation. Please note that there'll be no entry after 9pm – event details are below. We begin Saturday evening at 5:30pm, when we'll be in the Department of Computer Science's Seminar Room 051 to hear all about the theorem proving software Coq. Make sure to come along if you're interested in finding formal proofs with code! Afterwards, at 7pm, we'll retire to the Undergraduate Social Area for a special yearly occurrence – the Annual General Meeting! We'll elect a brand new committee and then vote on your motions, before kicking back and enjoying some pizza. — Declan, your earnest CompSoc envoy Fun Computing Fact: We've mentioned Usenet in passing for some fun facts before, but did you know that Oxford once had its own news server (a server holding Usenet posts, referred to as news) and university newsgroups? By connecting to the University's news server, one could post to a range of newsgroups, which hosted discussion through to the 2010s. CompSoc even had its own newsgroup, ox.clubs.microsoc, which received postings detailing upcoming events through to 2005. The University's news server remains online to this day! Upcoming CompSoc Elections On Saturday 8th March, we'll be holding CompSoc's Annual General Meeting to elect a new committee! We're seeking candidates to fill the eleven roles up for grabs in the brand new incarnation of the committee. Those positions are: * President * Vice-President * Secretary * Treasurer * Social Secretary * Talks Officer * Learn to Code Officer * Competitive Programming Officer * Cybersecurity (CTF) Officer * IT Officer * Legal Counsel If you'd like to learn more, including what each position entails, check out the guide written by our President and our former Vice-President here<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wksW5XMIUBRdrHe_U1iuhPBjKAdhnhKv/view?usp=…>. If you're interested in standing for election, please fill out this form<https://forms.gle/3ufBPA8MvUdd2wcD6>. 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] End of Term Social [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/t0j/a4i/0ql/PNG%20End%20of…] As the end of the term approaches and the call of vacation beckons, it's time to celebrate! Join us as we see out Hilary Term in style on Friday at 8pm, when we'll be down at Oxo Bar to loosen up with thrilling conversation and free drinks. If you're tired out from the tedium of the term, make sure to come along! Please note that there will be no entry after 9pm. When: 8pm, Friday 7th March Where: Oxo Bar 48 George St, Oxford OX1 2AQ Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5ekFX2mXk Learn to Code – Theorising with Coq [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/dad/9hz/8mj/PNG%20Learn%20…] For our specialised Learn to Code session this week, it's time to get logical! Join us on Saturday at 5:30pm, when we'll be in the Department to learn all about Coq, a formal proof management system which can be used to define and derive proofs. If you're interested in exploring proofs with code, come along and prove your mettle! When: 5:30-6:30pm, Saturday 8th March Where: Seminar Room 051, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/8yDXinDC6 CompSoc Annual General Meeting [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/u3l/2yp/6ic/PNG%20HT25%20A…] This Saturday, we're back for a rare yearly occurrence – CompSoc's Annual General Meeting! Join us at 7pm as we convene to discuss your suggestions and vote on your motions to improve the society. Most importantly, we'll also be electing a brand new committee! Afterwards, we'll see out the term with a classic Saturday Social. If you're a member interested in running for our committee, see this guide<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wksW5XMIUBRdrHe_U1iuhPBjKAdhnhKv/view>! Once you've had a read, you can apply to run here<https://forms.gle/3ufBPA8MvUdd2wcD6>. We have plenty of positions up for grabs, and some committee experience is a great way to pad out your CV while showing your interest and dedication to the world of computing. We'll hear speeches from everyone who's running before we hold blind votes for each position. Voting for committee and motions is restricted to members only. If you're not a member yet, hop on over to our website<https://ox.compsoc.net/> and get signed up! Lifetime membership only costs £1. Members can propose motions in the #motions channel of our Discord server<https://discord.com/invite/cUZFPG5WZ6> (please note that you must be present at the AGM to propose the motion). When: 7pm, Saturday 8th March Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/4xpjC3UCE [And More...] Hilary Term 2025 Termcard [https://3f02beb114.imgdist.com/pub/bfra/jofz1jq9/am3/vub/5k8/HT25%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] Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe here<https://lists.ox.compsoc.net/mailman/listinfo>. 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