Interdisciplinary Biology, Cybernetics & Complex Systems Research Hackathon @ MIT Media Lab

WHAT ⭐️: • Ekkolapto's returning to MIT Media Lab for the next Longevity Research Hackathon with tracks based on these researchers: Prof. Michael Levin, Prof. Elan Barenholtz, Prof. William Hahn, Andrés Gomez Emilsson from Qualia Research Institute. • Tracks include: Bioelectricity & Morphostatic Information, Phenomenology of Longevity, Biological Prompt Engineering, Biological Infohazards & Disease, Biological Languages & Autoregression, Olfaction & Longevity. • Fields and Areas of Interest: computational nutrition, complex systems & cybernetics, computational philosophy, xenobiology, bioelectricity, self-organization & emergence, economical properties of collective intelligence systems, open systems & synergetics. • Hosted by Addy (Founder @ Ekkolapto.org, O'Shaughnessy Ventures 2025 Grantee). • Previous hackathons, salons, podcasts, and dinners at MIT, UT Austin, FAU, Harvard, Augmentation Lab, Frontier Tower in SF, DC/Maryland, NYC, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo. • Sponsored by Ekkolápto Research and the Computational Philosophy Research Group at MIT. • Food and beverages provided for the weekend! SPEAKERS 🔊: • Prof. William Hahn (co-founder of Machine Perception Cognitive Robotics Lab; Center for Complex Systems) • Prof. Elan Barenholtz (co-founder of Machine Perception Cognitive Robotics Lab; Center for Complex Systems) • Andrés Gomez Emilsson (co-founder of Qualia Research Institute) • Léo Pio-Lopez PhD (Computational Biologist @ Michael Levin's Lab in Tufts University) • Andreas Mershin PhD (MIT Label Free Research Group, OsmoCosm, Lecturer @ MIT Sloan, CSO @ RealNose.ai) • Mentors & Judges: Eliade Weismann (Qualia Research Institute), Michael Ostroff (Wolfram Institute, Ekkolapto, Machine Perception Cognitive Robotics Lab), Kyrylo Kalashnikov, Addy Cha (Ekkolapto). DETAILS 👀: • This hackathon is a bit different. Our selective cohort of participants will follow each of the listed research paths and develop a paradigm-shifting framework (a research paper) for enhancing biology–from increasing memory or fluid intelligence, modifying the immune system, to the greater theme of increasing lifespan and healthspan. • This hackathon is structured to be more collaborative than competitive, in that we aim to unify the ideas people present into an overarching theory of complex systems across biological and artificial substrates. SCHEDULE 🗓️: Friday Oct 17: • 3PM to 4PM: Leo Pio-Lopez PhD from Michael Levin's Lab presents on Bioelectricity, Aging, and Morphostatic Loss of Information + Live Q&A. • 4PM to 5PM: Andreas Mershin PhD (MIT Label Free Research, OsmoCosm) presents on New Paradigms of Understanding and Utilizing Olfaction + Live Q&A. • 5PM to 6PM: Andrés Gómez-Emilsson (Qualia Research Institute) presents on The Phenomenology of Longevity + Live Q&A. • 6PM to 7PM: Professors Will Hahn & Elan Barenholtz present on Biological Infohazards & Disease and Biological Prompt Engineering + Live Q&A. • 7PM onwards: Start forming teams and developing your main ideas to work on! Saturday Oct 18: • 10AM onwards: Ideating, building, iterating! Sunday Oct 19: • 10AM to 5PM: Wrapping up + Finishing Touches on your Paper! • 5-8PM: Hackathon Projects Presentations, Questions, Discussions! WHO 🧠: • Students, researchers, professors, and founders passionate about fields of philosophy and logic, computer science and AI, math and physics, engineering, cognitive science, longevity, linguistics, and consciousness. • A technical background is preferred but not required. Even if you think you are not a fit for this event, apply anyways! PREVIOUS EVENTS 📸: • 2024 Longevity & Unconventional Computing Research Hackathon at MIT Media Lab, featuring Stephen Wolfram, Joscha Bach, David Sinclair, Curt Jaimungal, and more: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy5dPSW_KkniuHpoLwlzkYcxhxn50Mn0T • Past Polymath Salons and discussions are uploaded for you to watch on the Ekkolápto channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ekkolapto3 • Recent Polymath Salon at UT Austin with Professor Scott Aaronson on the Philosophy of Computational Complexity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OST1DjD08Hg • Recent Polymath Salon at University of Toronto with Michael Levin, Andrés Gómez Emilsson, and Elan Barenholtz on the Binding Problem and Platonic Spaces: https://youtu.be/0BVM0UC28nY — — — This Event is Part of Boston Longevity Week ➡️ About Boston Longevity Week 2025: • Anchored by the 2025 Biomarkers of Aging Conference at Harvard Medical School, Boston Longevity Week is the city’s flagship annual series at the forefront of geroscience and geromedicine. The week is decentralized and partner-led, bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, clinicians, investors, and enthusiasts to spark critical conversations, speed innovation, and translate discoveries into longer, healthier lives. • Through high-impact events, cross-sector collaboration, and community activations, Longevity Week showcases Boston’s unique ecosystem and helps onboard the next generation of longevity scientists, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and enthusiasts - positioning Boston as a global leader in translating longevity R&D. • All participating events can be found here: bostonlongevityweek.com • Get involved as a host, sponsor an event, or other inquiries: Contact Nicholas C. Fiorenza: nicholas.fiorenza@mfoundation.org