Members of the UWindsor Google Developer Student Club are helping organize the first Great North DevFest, a conference bringing together tech industry professionals and students from across Canada and Michigan.

The club is collaborating with Google Developer Groups in Detroit and Ann Arbor to create a virtual conference featuring skill-building technical workshops and networking opportunities on Saturday, Oct. 17.

One of the event organizers, biochemistry and computer science student Aislyn Laurent, is Google’s Women Techmaker Ambassador for the Windsor-Essex region.

“It’s the one chance this year students will meet with professionals from Vancouver to Halifax,” says Laurent. “Working with the GDGs has been an incredible experience, and we’re thrilled to bring the same networking opportunities to students across campus.”

Proceedings will take place online and admission is free. Topics include machine learning, cross platform development, and cloud computing.

Spencer Briguglio, vice president of research development for Enactus and student-in-tech for the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre, will volunteer on the day to help run things behind the scenes and says students in all faculties should consider participating.

“This isn’t something just for computer science students,” he says. “Having completed a degree in biochemistry, I can tell you these technical skills have major cross-disciplinary applications.”

Registration for the event is now open. Find more information and reserve a ticket on the Great North DevFest website.