The new 2026-2027 academic year is here, and we couldn’t have started it with more energy! Last Thursday, September 17, the Disseny Lab (Open Labs) at the School of Engineering became the epicenter of technology and reunions with our highly anticipated Welcome Day.
It was an unforgettable kickoff. Not only did we have the opportunity to formally introduce ourselves to the entire faculty at the Escola d’Enginyeria’s official welcome ceremony, but we also celebrated something huge: we are finally 100% officially the IEEE Student Branch x GDGoC UAB! Two great communities united to bring the best of technology to our campus.
🤫 The best-kept secret: From an old computer to a home server
We spent weeks keeping the surprise activity a mystery, and just two hours before the event, we dropped the bombshell via email: we were going to learn how to set up a personal server from scratch to reclaim our digital sovereignty.
The challenge? Stop relying forever on subscriptions like iCloud, Google Photos, Dropbox, or Amazon Photos. With the tools ready on their devices—the VirtualBox virtual machine and the Debian ISO image—we got to work:
- Reuse and sustainability: We learned how to give a second life to any old or unused computer lying around at home to turn it into a powerful and efficient 24/7 server.
- Debian environment: We configured a solid foundation with Linux to deploy our own storage and management services for personal photos and files.
- Your data, your rules: We proved that you don’t need to pay monthly fees or give up the privacy of your memories to have an accessible and modern cloud.
⚡ Brain Fuel: Ice-cold Monster to break the ice
To combat the heat and keep everyone’s brains processing at their peak throughout the afternoon, we had full fridges: free ice-cold cans of Monster for all attendees. Between configuration setups and Linux terminals, the laughter, networking, and chats among students from all years made the two hours fly by.
The day’s numbers 📊
We started the season breaking satisfaction records with a community more eager than ever:
- 18 attendees: An amazing turn-out for the first week of classes, filling the Disseny Lab with laptops, chargers, and plenty of enthusiasm.
- 5 out of 5 ⭐ (Absolute perfection!): A perfect score on the surveys, showing us that you loved the hands-on content and the format.
- Event 1 of 1: First milestone of the academic year achieved with total success as part of our new 2026-2027 Roadmap.
- Presentation at the official ceremony: We brought the voice of IEEE and GDGoC to the main stage of the School of Engineering.
What’s next?
This was just the appetizer. If you enjoyed this first workshop, get ready for what’s coming this semester: cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence workshops, web development, Cloud Native, competitions, and hardware and robotics sessions at the Open Labs.
Couldn’t make it or want to make sure you don’t miss the next event? You can now sign up on our new web portal, join our WhatsApp group, and follow us on Instagram (@ieee_uab) to stay updated on all news and merch drops.
Thank you all for an unbeatable start, and see you at the next challenge! 🚀
The IEEE Student Branch UAB x GDGoC UAB team