The Code of Honour - 2023, a 24-Hour Hackathon organised by PES University

The Code of Honour, a 24-Hour Hackathon organised by Shunya: The Official Math Club of PES University campus in collaboration with Samarpana took place on November 4 and 5 at the PES University, under the theme of Suraksh Bharat, bringing together a diverse group of students, coding enthusiasts, and professionals to showcase their coding skills and innovations. The event was meticulously organised, creating an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity throughout the day.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by the Registrar, PES University, Dr. K S Sridhar, and the Dean, Student Affairs, Dr. V Krishna, followed by the first round of coding. A highlight of the event was the "Operation Blackout" game, a digital escape room.

At the end of the preliminary review process, top 8 teams were selected and announced. These teams were given the opportunity to present their projects before a distinguished panel of judges. The panel consisted of Dr. Sanjeev G, Dr. Manikandan J and Prof. Badri Prasad, who evaluated these projects based on certain specific criteria, including novelty, technical strength, impact, product quality, and presentation.

The highlight of this event was a live interactive session with space pioneer, Dr. T N Suresh Kumar. Dr. Kumar is renowned for his pioneering contributions to space science and exploration. His remarkable achievements include him becoming the first Indian scientist to venture into the "Edge of Space-Stratosphere" and experiencing zero gravity at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Centre in Russia. He has explored diverse landscapes, from the Sahara Desert's Ennedi Plateau to the summit of Nyiragongo Active Volcano in Congo and the enigmatic Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean. Dr. Kumar's extensive travels have taken him to over 167 countries and all seven continents, making him a true global explorer. Furthermore, his distinguished career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has left an indelible mark on the world of space science and technology. This session was moderated by A P Yashaswi (Club Mentor) and Shikhar Jaiswal (Club Head). Dr. Kumar generously shared insights not only into his professional expertise but also his personal life, life lessons, stress management, and his aspirations for retirement. 

The event concluded on a high note with the announcement and awarding of the hackathon winners. Top 3 teams were honoured by Dr. Kumar, marking the end of an eventful and successful hackathon. The Code of Honour was generously supported by Echo 3D, Wolfram Language, O'Reilly, IEEE Signal Processing Society Bangalore Chapter, IEEE Communication Society and IEEE Computer Society PES University Student Chapters. 

Shunya club wishes to place on record the support and encouragement given by Dr. M.R. Doreswamy, Honourable Chancellor and Prof. D. Jawahar, Pro Chancellor, J. Suryaprasad, Vice Chancellor of the University for hosting the event.