Festival Programme
Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 June 2026
London South Bank University
Tuesday 23rd June 2026
Ada London Festival Launch
The Ada London Festival will officially launch.
A dedicated training afternoon for current and prospective LSBU Computer Science student ambassadors aim at equipping them with the skills to champion gender diversity in computing.
What to Expect:
This session will set the scene and provide context to the Ada Festival and will see the launch of Ada London Festival. Students will be equipped with essential skills to champion gender diversity in computing. There will be a hands-on session where participants will design engaging outreach activities and present their ideas. The session will conclude with networking opportunity over light refreshments.
- Participants: LSBU Computer Science students
- Format: In-person workshop day
- Location: LSBU Southwark Campus, Faraday Wing Computer Labs
Wednesday 24th June 2026
AI for Good & Your Future in Tech
An inspiring morning exploring how artificial intelligence is shaping the world – and the careers of the future. Students hear from real-world professionals, take part in interactive AI activities, and discover the range of pathways available to them in the technology sector.
What to Expect:
- Explore real-world uses of AI in healthcare and environmental science
- Meet university students and tech professionals working in London
- Learn about future pathways into digital and technology careers
- Take part in hands-on interactive AI activities
Gatsby Benchmarks: Supports Benchmarks 2, 4 and 5 – connecting curriculum learning to careers, employer engagement and higher education pathways.
- Audience: Students aged 13–16 (Years 9–10) – minimum 50% female
- Format: In-person morning event (up to 40 students)
- Location: LSBU Southwark Campus, Faraday Wing Computer Labs
- Partners: Raspberry Pi Foundation, BCS Women
Thursday 25th June 2026
Social Impact Hackathon: Code Her Future
Teaching Computer Science to Girls in Afghanistan
Today you are not just attending a hackathon — you are part of something that matters. Over the next few hours, your team will design a real technology solution to help girls in Afghanistan learn computer science, even though the Taliban has banned them from going to school. You don’t need to be a coding expert. You need curiosity, creativity, and care.
The Context
Since August 2021, the Taliban banned girls from secondary education in Afghanistan. Today, 2.5 million girls are denied schooling – it is the only country on Earth where this is the law. Despite the risk, thousands of girls attend secret underground schools. They need CS education that is offline, safe, disguised, and designed for them.
The hackathon is hosted in collaboration with Dr Safia Barikzai – an Afghan woman, Associate Professor at London South Bank University and member of BCSWomen – who grew up as a refugee, moving through 11 schools before reaching higher education.
- Audience: Students aged 14–18 (Years 10–13) – open to all genders
- Format: Full-day in-person hackathon • Teams of 4–5
- Location: London South Bank University (LSBU)
Programme at a Glance
| TIME | ACTIVITY | DETAIL |
| 10:00 – 10:10 | Arrival & Registration | Get your team pack, name badges, and find your table |
| 10:10 – 10:30 | Opening: The Story Behind the Challenge & Challenge Brief | Dr Safia Barikzai & Dr Matthew Barr |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Sprint 1 — Research & Understand | Explore the landscape; map your users; define constraints |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Sprint 2 — Ideate | Brainstorm; vote; focus your concept |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | 🍕 Lunch & Mentor Drop-Ins | Mentors circulate; informal feedback on early ideas |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Sprint 3 — Build & Prototype | Create your prototype or model; design your solution |
| 13:00 – 13:15 | Pitch Preparation | Guided session: how to structure your 5-minute pitch |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Team Pitches — 5 Minutes Each | Present to judges and audience; Q&A after each |
| 14:15 – 14:25 | Judges’ Deliberation | Teams complete reflection sheets while judges score |
| 14:25 – 14:45 | Awards, Feedback & Closing | Prizes, judge feedback, Dr Safia’s closing words |