Penguicon

Last updated
Penguicon
Penguicon Starfleet Tux.jpg
Tux visits the Penguicon Consuite
StatusActive
Genre Science fiction/Linux User Group
VenueWestin Southfield Hotel, Southfield, MI (since 2014)
Location(s) Southeastern Michigan
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2003
Attendance1550 (2016) [1]
Organized byPenguicon Staff
Filing status Non-profit
Website http://penguicon.org

Penguicon is a convention in southeastern Michigan designed originally to mix the communities of the science fiction fandom and Linux user groups. [2] In addition to educational panels on science fiction in the media, attendees participate in professional and beginner-level panels on Linux and open-source software. Penguicon takes its name both from a Monty Python sketch and from Tux, the penguin mascot of Linux. [3]

Contents

Penguicon is held in the spring in the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area. The venue, a hotel, has changed from year to year, but since 2014 the event has been held at the Westin Southfield Hotel in Southfield, Michigan. [4]

Since its founding, Penguicon has expanded its focus to include panels and events for foodies, cosplay, filk music (the folk music of science fiction fandom), gaming, and makerspaces. [5] Penguicon has been described as a place where "hackers, makers, foodies, open source software junkies, anime buffs, and science fiction fans of all ages and backgrounds come together in a hotel for a weekend and totally blow the roof off." [6]

Along with the panels, the convention has hosted Artemis spaceship bridge simulations, biohacking presentations, retrogaming rooms, and a life-size Operation game board. [7]

Working alongside local makerspaces i3Detroit and All Hands Active, Penguicon has offered instruction in learning to solder electronic components, which allowed attendees to create their own LED badges. [8]

Over a thousand participants have attended past conventions, which have featured Guests of Honor from Neil Gaiman [9] and John Scalzi [10] to Jon "maddog" Hall and Eric S. Raymond. [11]

Recent events

For the 2014 convention, the Penguicon tech track's focus was on privacy and cryptography. [12] Guests of Honor included Ernie Cline, author of Ready Player One ; and Eva Galperin of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. [12] [13]

Philanthropy

Penguicon was listed as a Guardian of Wildlife at the Detroit Zoo in 2013 for donating to symbolically adopt a penguin. [14]

In 2013, Penguicon listed the New Beginnings Animal Rescue as their official charity, and Penguicon members donated $700 and 123 pounds of food during the convention weekend. [15]

Penguicon was also a sponsor of MHacks III, a weekend-long hackathon held in Detroit in January 2014. [16]

The organization Enabling the Future, which constructs 3D printed prosthetic hands for those in need, was Penguicon's 2015 Hack of Honor [17] and official sponsored charity. [18] Along with collecting donations, Penguicon worked with Enabling the Future and community members to 3D print limbs leading up to and during the 2015 convention. [19]

Every year, Penguicon invites a dozen or more people (authors, hackers, and entertainers) who are not full Guests of Honor, but are celebrities in their own right, and calls them Featured Guests (formerly "Nifty Guests"). They also invite former Guests of Honor as "Guest of Honor Emeritus". In 2010, this included author Jim C. Hines, musician Tom Smith, and open source advocate Eric S. Raymond. [20]

Wil Wheaton's cancellations

Penguicon has invited Wil Wheaton as a guest of honor multiple times, but he has had to cancel each time. In 2009, Wheaton had to cancel the morning of the convention and wrote an apology letter which was read aloud at Opening Ceremonies. [21]

Tron Guy

Jay Maynard debuted his self-made electroluminescent Tron Guy costume at Penguicon in 2004. [22] After submitting photos of himself to Slashdot, he appeared in costume on Jimmy Kimmel Live. [23] He has also been on America's Got Talent and a commercial for Duck Brand duct tape. Maynard says he "hasn't missed a Penguicon, and doesn't intend to." [24]

Penguicon Events

YearConchairLocationDatesGuests of HonorWebsite
2024Bagel GarrisonAnn Arbor Marriott YpsilantiApril 26th to April 28thDr. Stefani Goerlich, J. Wolfgang Goerlich, Benny Vasquez Penguicon 22
2023David “Ska” GreenWestin – Southfield, MichiganApril 21st to April 23rd Eric Choi, Charles J. Cohen, Ph.D., PMP, Sylvia Hubbard Penguicon 21
2022Dave “Ska” GreenWestin – Southfield, MichiganApril 21st to April 23rdNuri Gocay, Larry Nemecek, Tracy Barnett Penguicon 20
2021Dave “Ska” GreenWestin – Southfield, MichiganApril 22nd to April 25th David Revoy, Chris Crawford, Casey Fiesler, Leonard Balsera, Jo Walton, Larry Nemecek Penguicon 19
2020Bagel GarrisonVirtualApril 24th to April 26thMargret-Ann Miller, Jo Walton, Larry Nemecek, Christopher Webber Penguicon 18
2019Jessica RolandWestin – Southfield, MichiganMay 3rd to May 5th Saladin Ahmed, Zed Shaw, Mikey Mason, Daniel Hansen (Crafty Celts), Sophia Brueckner, Karen Corbeill Penguicon 17
2018Cassy SinkeWestin – Southfield, MichiganMay 4th to May 6thMark Oshiro, Johnny Xmas, Dr. Kristine Larsen, Christine Sunu, Mary Anne Mohanraj (Writing Excuses) [25] Penguicon 16
2017Cylithria DuboisWestin – Southfield, MichiganApril 28th to April 30th Ada Palmer, [26]

Cory Doctorow, [27] Sumana Harihareswara, [28] Coraline Ada Ehmke (cancelled), [29] Kevin MacLeod, [30] Tommy Edison and Ben Churchill (Blind Film Critic), [31] The Tricorder Project (Hack of Honor) [32]

Penguicon 15
2016Scott KennedyWestin – Southfield, MichiganApril 29th to May 1st Ann Leckie, Sirius (Profs. Lingjia Tang and Jason Mars), Greg Gage, Catherynne M. Valente, Deb Nicholson, Ann Lemay [11] Penguicon 14
2015Nuri GocayWestin – Southfield, MichiganApril 24th to April 26thAlbert Manero, Charlie Jane Anders, Annalee Newitz, Aral Balkan, Enabling the Future (Hack of Honor) [11] [18] Penguicon 13
2014Nuri GocayWestin – Southfield, MichiganMay 2nd to May 4th Ernest Cline, YTCracker, Eva Galperin (Electronic Frontier Foundation), Erika Carlson (Girl Develop It Detroit founder), GameFace Labs (Hack of Honor) [11] [13] Penguicon 12
2013Nuri GocayMarriott Centerpoint - Auburn Hills, MichiganApril 26th to April 28thJason Denzel, Jim C. Hines, Jeff Potter, Maik Schmidt, Michael W. Lucas, Nick Farr [11] Penguicon 11
2012Chuck ChildRegency Hyatt - Dearborn, MichiganApril 27th - April 29th John Scalzi, [10] Jim Gettys, Scrub Club Records, Open Soda (Hack of Honor) [11] Penguicon 10
2011Limey ZrnichTroy Marriott - Troy, MichiganApril 29th to May 1st MC Frontalot, Brandon Sanderson, Jimmie P. Rogers, Howard Tayler [11] Penguicon 9
2010Randy BradakisTroy Marriott - Troy, MichiganApril 30th to May 2ndJoe Brockmeier, Marcel Gagné, Karl Schroeder, Spider Robinson (cancelled), Jeanne Robinson (cancelled), Howard Tayler, i3Detroit (Hack of Honor) [11] Penguicon 8
2009Matt ArnoldCrown Plaza Hotel - Romulus, MIMay 1st to May 3rd Rasmus Lerdorf, Jon "maddog" Hall, Andrew Hackard, Jane McGonigal, Wil Wheaton (cancelled), [21] CandyFab [11] Penguicon 7
2008Keri SpringerTroy Hilton - Troy, MichiganApril 18th to April 20th Benjamin Mako Hill, Jono Bacon, Vernor Vinge, Tamora Pierce, Randall Munroe, Keith Baker, Zeusaphone [11] Penguicon 6
2007phecdaTroy Hilton - Troy, MichiganApril 20th to April 22nd Bruce Schneier, Charlie Stross, Elizabeth Bear, Christine Peterson, Steve Jackson, Randy Milholland [11] Penguicon 5
2006Aaron ThulLivonia Holiday Inn - Livonia, MichiganApril 21st to April 23rd Chris DiBona, Frank Hayes, Steve Miller, Sharon Lee, Andy Looney, Kristin Looney, Alison "Looney" Frane (Looney Labs) [11] Penguicon 4
2005Bill PuttSheraton Detroit - Novi, MichiganApril 22nd to April 24thNat Torkington, Dr. Peter Salus, Cory Doctorow, Joan D. Vinge, Rod Roddenberry, Kevin Siembieda, Wil Wheaton (cancelled) [11] Penguicon 3
2004ChairSheraton Detroit - Novi, MichiganApril 16th to April 18th Jeff "Hemos" Bates, Jon "maddog" Hall, Neil Gaiman, [9] Steve Jackson, Wil Wheaton (cancelled) [11] Penguicon 2
2003Michael AndaluzVan Dyke Park Suites - Warren, MichiganMay 2nd to May 4th Eric S. Raymond, Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda, Terry Pratchett, J. D. Frazer, Pete Abrams [11] Penguicon 1

In the media

A Science Channel show, Outrageous Acts of Science, replayed a video from Penguicon 2006 [33] in which Nifty Guest Howard Tayler recorded attendees dumping the remains of a dewar of liquid nitrogen into the hotel swimming pool. [34] In 2010, Howard Tayler returned to Penguicon as a Guest of Honor and hosted a second video involving liquid nitrogen and the hotel swimming pool. [35]

See also

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References

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