Abandon Normal Devices is offering a bursary of up to £500 for emerging practitioners to showcase new work or work in progress at an event new to our programme in 2013, the AND Fair.

The fair is inspired by the World’s Fairs of old, where inventors could showcase new inventions and discoveries such as moving images, electricity or the fluorescent light bulb.

Whether you are an artist, engineer, hacker, technologist or maker – or you sit somewhere in between – we would love to hear from you.

The deadline is 11 Aug. Click here for details of how to apply.

They're also looking for volunteers

Volunteers are crucial members of the AND team. We wouldn't be able to deliver our programme without them.

We're looking for people to help with a wide range of tasks including installing artwork, stewarding and market research.

Register your interest by 16 Aug if you'd like to get involved.

If you work in Digital Technology in Liverpool then you should subscribe to Open Labs newsletter. Their programme of fascinating and industry relevant events and networking opportunities are a must.

Open Labs are delighted to host TedxLiverpool Youth at LJMU’s Art & Design academy on 17th July. This TED is targeted at young people who are curious and seeking inspiration. With videos and talks there are opportunities to gain insight and ideas from those people who are shaping our world. Feel free to check out what’s going on but, unfortunately, it’s fully booked !

Calling all business ladies in Merseyside. Do you Know Your Value? This fantastic networking event for local business women is designed to help you review your pricing strategy, understand your USP and ensure you maximise profits. It’s on 16th July in The Women’s Organisation. Sign up now.

Ignite Liverpool never fails to offer an evening of entertainment. Speakers are queuing up to offer informative, cheeky and sometimes the downright strange talks on a wide range of topics. Time to secure your place for August’s Ignite.

Liverpool Start-up Digest … If you haven’t done so yet perhaps now’s the time to subscribe for this weekly newsletter of the best tech startup events & get to know Liverpool’s startup community.

We at Open Labs love Liverpool’s Social Media Cafe …. It’s fun and informative. Whether you are newly interested in the digital world, or are already a confirmed social media junky, come and be informed, inspired and share your knowledge and experience. Tweet and follow @SMCLiv for announcement of next gathering.

eHealth Accelerator Fringe Event ….. Open Labs hosted a workshop on Assisted Living Technologies as part of the Accelerate 2013 programme. Speakers (including the NHS, Liverpool City Council, LEP, Open Labs, Spark Impact and local SMEs) presented opportunities, market realities, customer requirements and emerging developments to an audience of companies and other organisations interested in exploring the opportunities associated with technologies used to support older and disabled people.

Tech Britain…..Isn’t it time to get your start-up ‘on the map’ and tell everyone what you are up to? Here’s your opportunity to list your business on this website devoted to Technology Businesses in the UK … check out the events posted here too.

It may be hot outside but we know you freelancers and home workers still need to seek out places to work and mingle in the town centre. JellyLiverpool comes to your rescue this month on 18th July. No need to register, just turn up to Leaf on Bold Street and head for the 2nd Floor for free Wifi and coffee plus great company.

The next LivLUG meeting will take place next Wednesday, March 6th.

Sebastian will be giving his talk originally scheduled for January but postponed due to illness. Sebastian will be covering the trials and tribulations of installing a Linux distro (Slackware in this case) to an ultrabook using UEFI. He will not be covering using Secure boot with Linux, that is a whole new can of worms and UEFI on its own is enough to fill an evening's talk.

March's SciBar in Liverpool will be given by Professor Martyn Amos of Manchester Metropolitan University. Martyn's talk is called "Genesis Machines: Biological Computers and Synthetic Biology".

If you have ever wondered what Ignite Liveprool is all about then take a look at this video they have just released and if it gets your juices flowing then you can book via the left hand menu bar. 

If you were at TEDxLiveprool last week then you'll remember the excellent video above delivered by Dan Pink "The Puzzle of Motovation" well now you can expereince him for FREE when he comes to Liverpool on the 28th February. 

Dan is Al Gore's former speechwriter and has gone onto write a number of bestselling books including...
A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future
DRIVE: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

He is here for the Liverpool launch of his new book, TO SELL IS HUMAN: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others, and Liverpool will be the only city outside of London that Dan will be visiting on his UK book tour.

On 21 - 24 March 2013, FutureEverything presents the Summit of Ideas & Digital Invention - a four day event that is centred around a two day conference and a programme of live music and contemporary art events. The Summit will host the annual FutureEverything conference, which is focussing on three main themes we believe will influence the culture and business of digital societies in the future: Creative Code, Future Cities and The Data Society.

They are delighted to announce speakers from Google, BBC, Kickstarter, Vimeo and the Europeana Foundation are already confirmed.

On Friday 17th May from 4pm until late, thousands of visitors and local residents will descend upon Liverpool for a vibrant cultural festival. With around 100 special events dotted across the city centre, visitors of all ages can follow their own trail of activities, exhibitions, performance, talks, walks and much more.

Open Culture have put a call out for events to take place on the evening. 

Ask yourself "What will you do for Light Night 2013?"

If you made it top the last TEDx Liverpool you will have enjopyed a great day listening to some world class speakers well it's coming round again so it's time to get your tickets as they announce their first three speakers for TEDxLiverpool 2013. They are..