Salutations, Learned Friends,

Welcome to Week 2! As we cross into the flow of the term, we have a tsunami of events coming this week for your delectation, including some starting at CompSoc for the first time ever!

We're kicking off this week of events today with an introduction session to capture-the-flag! Come down to the Department at 7pm to join us for the first of CompSoc's CTF sessions, a new set of cybersecurity events held by us for the first time!

On Tuesday, those fortunate few who succeeded in bagging a free ticket for ice skating last week will join us at Oxford Ice Rink. Running into Wednesday, we continue the week's cybersecurity theme with a talk at 5pm in the Department hosted by David Colombo, a cybersecurity expert.

We have a barrage of events headed our way on Saturday, with the launch of our Learn to Code series this term at 5:30pm at Jesus College! If you're worn out afterwards, you can head along to our Saturday Social at 7pm in the UGSA for a typical relaxed evening of pizza, chat and snacks.

Finally, we close off the week on Sunday at 1:30pm with the second session of our new set of Competitive Programming bootcamp events! Come along to the UGSA to hone your skills ready for the contest next week.

— Declan, your ever-trusted CompSoc envoy

Fun Computing Fact: We may be used to hearing about world-changing events through the Internet first these days – but that certainly wasn't true for the budding users of Usenet in 1991. However, when high-ranking politicians in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union launched a coup against President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991, those online were the first in the West to know!

Although the KGB took traditional media off the air and state television played nothing but Swan Lake, the Interfax news agency used the Kurchatov Institute's RELCOM network to share news of the coup attempt with Usenet, allowing the Western world to keep up to date with the situation. Internal protests and international pressure prompted the failure of the coup, and the Soviet Union dissolved only four months later.

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Fancy dipping your toes into the realm of cybersecurity? Brand new for 2024, we're launching CTF sessions today at 7pm! Whether you're a capture-the-flag veteran or just a tad CTF-curious, make sure to come along tonight to check out our introductory session. We'll be in the Seminar Room near the Undergraduate Social Area.

When: 7-9pm, Monday 21st October

Where: Seminar Room 051, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/7k7MAkg8O

Were you lucky enough to grab a ticket for our ice skating social before they ran out? If so, don't forget to come along on Tuesday at 5pm for two hours of ice skating fun! Please come only if you signed up before spaces ran out.

When: 5-7pm, Tuesday 22nd October

Where: Oxford Ice Rink Oxpens Rd, Oxford OX1 1RX

Fancy something a little more intellectual this week? This Wednesday at 5pm, we'll be joined by cybersecurity expert David Columbo for a talk that's sure to intrigue. Make sure to join us at the Department of Computer Science for this captivating opportunity.

When: 7pm, Saturday 19th October

Where: Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/5BL1j9WXY

We'll be kicking off our annual Learn to Code series this week on Saturday! Join us at 5:30pm at Jesus College (not the Department!) and allow us to guide you through the first steps of learning to code in Python. All beginners are welcome, whether you're an artist or an engineer! We'll be on hand to help throughout the session.

If you'd like to look at some preparatory materials beforehand, check out Session 0's notes here! Completing Session 0 is not necessary to attend Saturday's session.

When: 5:30pm, Saturday 26th October

Where: Jesus College Turl St, Oxford OX1 3DW

Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/2tHTxn1Xz

It's Saturday, and we're back once more in the Undergraduate Social Area for our regular Saturday Social! Come along at 7pm for your fair share of pizza, snacks and ice cream, with flavours chosen by you!

When: 7pm, Saturday 26th October

Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/7SxnTDF2j

We cap off this week as we did the last – with a touch of training ready for the next Competitive Programming session. Come along on Sunday at 1:30pm to the Undergraduate Social Area to boost your skills at Competitive Programming with friends!

When: 1:30pm, Sunday 27th October

Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click 'Going' here: https://fb.me/e/6U171I9VX

We'll be joining the Oxford Founders Society and Oxford Blockchain Society on 2nd November for networking drinks. We'll be at Chequers from 6pm onwards. If you're interested in coming along, you can sign up at the link below! We'll have free drinks and some bites to eat.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/4kJ92KQbGQW8G66z5

The Oxford Startup Boot Camp trains Oxford students to build their own ventures.  This short class is five weeks, part-time, and designed to provide the fastest entrepreneurial learning experience possible.  Students learn Silicon Valley best practices and apply them while ideating, validating, and launching their own ventures.  They receive expert mentorship and network with other Oxford founders in their small-batch cohorts.  Students of all fields, degrees, and startup experience levels are welcome.  Researchers, faculty, and staff are also welcome.  Successful graduates receive membership in our alumni community and access to members-only events.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/7XG2L1Gz5JXL9ZnZ7

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.

or, contact us at committee@ox.compsoc.net

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