You asked for it, and we finally burned some tin! On May 4th, the UAB OpenLab was transformed into a real technology factory. In an epic collaboration between the IEEE Student Branch, GDGoC UAB, and the OpenLab team, we gathered to learn one of the most satisfying engineering skills: bringing circuits to life with our own hands.
🛠️ From theory to “getting our hands dirty”
Before turning on the soldering irons, we kicked off with a brief introductory presentation. We didn’t just explain what we do as a club (IEEE + GDGoC); we also shared the fundamental keys to soldering safely: how to avoid “cold joints,” the correct angle for the iron, and the secret to making the solder flow perfectly.
It was a 100% practical, hands-on session. No endless slides here; we went straight to the workbenches to face our big challenge of the day: the electronic airplane kit.
🛩️ Concentration, precision, and… Flight!
The atmosphere at OpenLab was incredible. Seeing over 30 people focused amidst the smoke (handled carefully) and millimeter-sized components was quite a sight.
- Mission Accomplished: Several participants managed to finish their planes completely, watching the LEDs come to life before the afternoon ended.
- Work in Progress: Others took their kits home or have a follow-up visit pending at OpenLab to finish their circuits. The most important thing is that no one left with doubts and everyone learned the technique!
- Maker Community: It was great to see students from different years helping each other identify resistors or rescuing a stubborn component.
The numbers don’t lie (Nearly a full house!) 📊
We are still amazed by your response. The interest in real hardware is clear:
- 32 attendees: We reached nearly the full capacity at OpenLab.
- 4.92 out of 5 ⭐: One of our highest ratings to date. Your feedback confirms that these “hands-on” workshops are your favorites.
- A mix of profiles: From experts who brought their own soldering stations to people who had never touched a circuit before. That’s what it’s all about!
🚀 Semester Closing Roadmap!
If you thought this was it, get ready. We are closing the academic year with four international-level events that you cannot miss:
- UX in WordPress (May 22nd): Design and development working together with JuanKa Díaz and Nora Ferreirós.
- AI Agents with Google ADK (May 26th): A practical workshop on Agentic AI and RAG with Fabrício Carraro (BSC). Top-tier level!
- Cloud & Infra with AI (June 5th): Demystify Kubernetes and Google Cloud with GDE and world expert Viktor Farcic.
- Final Study Session (June 8th): Our 10th event of the year. Tea, coffee, cookies, and a “Wall of Fame” to face final exams together.
Want to be part of the most active tech community at UAB? If you haven’t done so yet, join for free as a member and follow us on Instagram (@ieee_uab) so you don’t miss out on the next “adventures” we organize.
See you at the next workshop!
The IEEE Student Branch UAB x GDGoC UAB Team