King's College London Engineers' Association

Following the success of the Speed networking a KCLEA member is sponsoring the Hardware Hacks 26 event 

It is a first-of-its-kind, pure hardware hackathon hosted at of the Guys Campus King's College London 
organised by KCL Robotics and KCL Electronics 
Read what One KCL student writes about the value of Hackathons etc 

Software hacks are frequent – but hardware is a different world – and Hardware Hacks 26 is challenges teams of up to four 
to design, prototype, and demo real, physical systems.

What the teams need to do is

• Scavenge to Build: Teams will be given a household appliance. You have further access to a heap of miscellaneous e-waste as well.
• Reverse-Engineer: You must strip and scavenge its components to build an interesting invention within a time limit.
• ​Solve the Problem: Your hacked creations will be designed around specific problem statements that will be revealed on the day.
• ​Be Resourceful: While brand-new kits and components are at your disposal, true glory (and points) comes from maximising the use of your salvaged e-waste.

All in just Over 24 hours, each team will design, prototype, and demo real, physical systems. 
If it doesn't plug in, move, sense, or interact with the physical world... IT DOESN'T QUALIFY.

KCLEA has been approached to find Members to fulfil two Roles

Supporters

To Mentor, answer questions, act as a sounding board …. and generally share your experience

If would be very good to have 5 KCLEA members at each of the sessions

Saturday

Morning - to help define what needs to be done

Afternoon - to start the build

Evening - to keep spirits up

Sunday

Morning - to give that final push! 

If you can do multiple sessions that would be very good – and beside meeting more Kings Engineers 
you will see how all the hacks are developing.

Ample refreshments will be provided so you will be well looked after!

Judges

Sunday afternoon

To see the Hacks in use and to hear an elevator pitch from the teams – and to question them on how they made a successful hack!
Dr Mike Clode (KCL 1989-2013) will be chairing the team of 5 judges 

If you can help this Student activity 
please get in touch President@kclea.org.uk or the Contact Us page  

KCLEA is approaching members who it sees have skills which can help the student in this novel activity - 
but is looking to its wider membership to take the opportunity to Meet other Kings Engineers 
and to help Todays students in a very practical demonstration of engineering skills.

KCLEA is always seeking members to help it operate whether as a Committee member or Volunteer 

The location for the Hack is the General Class Room in the Hodgkin Building 
- the place very familiar to Students in Biomedical Engineering.
but no matter what you studied at Kings 
– your engineering experience and knowledge will be very well received by the students
 – and you will meet other King Engineers to meet and network with

The GCR is only 5 Minutes from London Bridge station see this map

From the Tube – Follow signs to Borough Market but at the exit use the escalators to Borough High St 
then first left into Kings Head Yard at the end go under the building and turn right into Beak 
Alley then left and right into Memorial Gardens and walk to the end of the buildings on your right… 
and go to the furthest set of steps up to the Hodgkin Building.

Or From the Main line station /Joiner Street Follow signs to Guys Hospital / the Shard 
and cross St Thomas Street into Great Maze Pond then Turn left and the right into Memorial Gardens 
– the Hodgkin Building is right at the far end – with the modern New Hunt's House building on the left!

KCLEA members should join the KCLEA group  on Linked in 
– the place to find the latest KCLEA news and to post your achievements and to network

Members Students and other Engineers can follow KCLEA on Linked in or Kings Connect

The Next KCLEA event is the Annual Lunch on 13th June 2026