The momentum keeps going at the start of this academic year! Last Wednesday, September 30th, the Disseny Lab of the OpenLabs at the School of Engineering was once again buzzing with energy, tools, and a tremendous drive to learn during an evening that exceeded all our expectations.
What was originally planned as a hands-on soldering workshop ended up turning into something much bigger. The response from all of you was so massive that we reached full capacity almost without realizing it. Seeing such enthusiasm, we knew we couldn’t leave anyone out.
⚡ Contingency Plan: Two Parallel Workshops
With around 40 people in the room and a limited number of soldering stations in the OpenLab, we faced a welcome dilemma of space and equipment. The solution? Adapt on the fly and enhance the experience by splitting the session into two simultaneously running workshops.
Since attendees were already prepared with their laptops, we set up a dynamic rotation system: while one group put on their gloves at the workbenches, the other worked on their computers, ensuring everyone made the absolute most of their time.
🛠️ From Zero to Circuit: 100% Hands-on Soldering
For many participants, this was their first time holding a soldering iron. Staying true to our learn-by-doing philosophy, we set aside heavy theory to jump straight into the action.
With all materials included, participants learned the fundamentals of electronic soldering from scratch, working directly with real components and assembling their own functional circuit. Overcoming the fear of the tool, mastering a steady hand, and understanding how to bring physical connections to life were the main milestones achieved at the workbenches.
🖥️ Reviving the Home Server: Debian and VirtualBox
Meanwhile, in the other half of the room, we brought back one of the most acclaimed activities from our first event of the term: designing and building a personal server. High demand and strong interest from those wanting to dive deeper into it made it the perfect alternative.
With VirtualBox running and the Debian ISO image ready on their laptops, attendees worked on setting up their virtual environments. This setup ensured the learning never stopped while groups alternated turns to use the soldering stations.
🙌 Special Thanks to Francesc Hueso
Pulling off an improvised double event on the fly with forty people in the room is no easy task. When we saw the massive turnout, we knew we needed steady hands leading each track.
This is where Francesc Hueso played a decisive role, stepping up without hesitation to take charge of one of the workshops and lead the session so both tracks could run at full capacity simultaneously. His dedication and quick thinking were key to making the afternoon a resounding success for everyone.
🔋 Brain Fuel and Team Spirit at the School of Engineering
Between solder wire, Linux terminals, and shift rotations, essential fuel was not missing: we had ice-cold Monster cans available for free to keep focus and energy levels at their peak.
Beyond the technical side, the best part of the afternoon was seeing students from different degree programs share questions, help each other out with stubborn solder joints, and bond in a collaborative, informal atmosphere.
The Numbers of the Day 📊
We continue building an incredible community within the faculty:
- ~40 attendees: Reaching maximum capacity, packing the Disseny Lab from wall to wall.
- 2 simultaneous workshops: Electronic soldering and server design running side by side with continuous rotation.
- 4.89 out of 5 ⭐ average rating: An outstanding score in our feedback surveys, showing that you loved both the hands-on format and the quick adaptation.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning. At the IEEE Student Branch UAB x GDGoC UAB, we are preparing new hands-on activities covering both hardware and software: workshops on Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, programming, and more sessions at the OpenLabs.
If you want to be part of the community, learn things beyond conventional classes, and secure your spot in upcoming activities, remember to sign up as a member for free and follow us on Instagram (@ieee_uab).
Thank you so much to everyone who came, and see you at the next challenge!
The IEEE Student Branch UAB x GDGoC UAB Team
