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Early Bird Pricing: $120
Standard Registration: $150
Day-Of Registration (limited): $200
Interested in being an exhibitor? Sign up by March 3 by clicking the Register Now link below.
THE V.E.S.T. HACKATHON
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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
equip | educate | engage
April 14-15, 2025
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California
Construction Management Department
The Verifying Everyone’s Safety Together (VEST) Hackathon aims to reduce gender-based hazards with personal protective equipment by developing safety gear that acknowledges, is designed for, and provides safety for diverse body types and identities. Since men are the majority in the construction industry, safety equipment has been designed to fit their typical body type. But workers don’t all come in one size.
Safety Harnesses
This year’s hackathon will be a collaborative between workers, students, manufacturers, and distributors together to design solutions that fit them. We will be scrutinizing and improving safety harnesses – and discussing women’s safety experiences on project sites.
The Women in Construction Research Symposium (WIC-RS) is a premier professional development and networking event for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) field. The symposium brings together students, faculty, and industry members to meet, discuss, and examine the research, issues, and trends associated with women in the AEC industry.
ABOUT THE JOINT CONFERENCE
What is a Hackathon?
Hackathons bring the person who uses the product into the design process – having them provide solutions so it better meets their needs. By bringing in the wearer, we develop solutions to improve solutions for the individual – not just the majority.
Why safety harnesses?
Falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers, and it is crucial to ensure that all workers are protected fairly. Many harnesses are designed primarily for men and do not accommodate the features of women, which can make them uncomfortable, unflattering, or restrictive.
Who should attend?
We welcome anyone who wants to participate, share their experiences, and develop solutions. More perspectives create a better product, meaning increased safety for all workers.
You should join us if you:
- Wear safety harnesses
- Manage your company’s safety program
- Develop safety solutions for distribution
- Are dedicated to equitable safety
What is the Symposium?
The joint conference will feature workshops, panel discussions, and research focused on three main themes:
- Leadership and communication
- Outreach, training, retention and mentorship
- Equitable safety and gender-based hazards
Symposium goals:
The theme of equip, educate, and engage will build our field’s capacity for advancing women and providing unbiased & equitable workspaces by:
- Sharing the latest research on women’s experiences – from all sectors and levels of the industry
- Sourcing new ideas and opportunities from the industry’s community of workers to improve equipment and create safer working conditions
- Discussing ways to create workplaces where women feel like they belong to support outreach, career advancement, and life-work balance
- Building networks and collaborations across industry sectors for mentorship and professional development
- Providing interactive and diverse panel sessions and workshops to discuss and exchange ideas with experts
Event Details
Agenda
An outline of the two days are listed on the tabs below. The hackathon agenda will vary slightly from the agenda below since most work will be done collaboratively in groups.
The Women in Construction Research Symposium Sessions will include panel discussions, interactive workshops, and research presentations.
See the printable agenda here.
Registration
Registration is now open! Register today by clicking the link below.
All registration fees include:
- Conference admission & materials
- Daily refreshments
- Lunch on April 14
- Dinner on April 14
Regular Registration: $150
Student Registration: $0
Limited On-Site Registration: $200
Location
Building and Room
Hosted by Cal Poly’s Construction Management, the event will be located at Cal Poly’s campus.
Parking
All parking on campus is by permit. Once registered, you will receive additional information about arriving and parking on campus.
Sponsorships
Demonstrate your dedication to advancing women in the industry by becoming a sponsor.
Click the button below to review the sponsorship levels and choose how you can contribute. All sponsors will receive recognition in the conference program, showcasing your support for this important cause.
Exhibitors
We are excited to showcase women’s construction apparel and PPE at our upcoming joint conference. We will have exhibitor space available and will be hosting informative sessions focused on equipping women with well-fitting PPE and clothing. We would love the opportunity to feature your product!
Click on the button below to view the different exhibitor levels.
To become an exhibitor, visit the event’s registration page, linked above.
Contact Us
Call for Speakers, Sessions & Panels
Call for speakers closed on January 6!
The call for speakers has officially closed as of January 6! But don’t worry, the excitement is just beginning! Be sure to keep an eye on this site for thrilling updates on the incredible sessions we have lined up. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to dive into engaging topics and hear from some amazing voices in the field. Stay tuned for all the latest announcements and get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Building on discussions with participants at past Verifying Everyone’s Safety Together (VEST) Hackathons, this year’s event will be expanded to offer additional resources and networking at Cal Poly Construction Management’s inaugural Women in Construction Research Symposium (WIC-RS).The symposium will include panels, research, and workshops to equip, educate, and engage with women in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. We are seeking your ideas, input, and research on key issues and trends affecting women in the industry.
This year’s VEST Hackathon will address gender-based hazards in the construction industry by scrutinizing and developing safety harnesses that accommodate diverse body types. In addition to creating and discussing equitable safety practices, the WIC-RS will include workshops, panels, and research on leadership, communication, recruitment, outreach, retention, persistence, and safety. By hosting these two events together, we will bring together industry workers, students, faculty, manufacturers, and experts from across industries to equip, educate, and engage with these topics.
Who Should Submit?
We welcome submissions from individuals of all backgrounds in the AEC industry, including owners, suppliers, PPE manufacturers, industry members, students, academics, and tradesworkers. Our program covers content beneficial for people at all career levels and across various industry sectors. We also encourage proposals from outside the construction field that align with the conference goals, promote relevant issues for women in the construction industry, and create safe and equitable workplaces for all.
What Kinds of Topics & Sessions?
We’re looking for topics that align with the overall theme of equip, educate, and engage. There are three conference tracks:
- Leadership and Communication
- Outreach, Training, Retention and Mentorship
- Equitable Safety and Gender-Based Hazards
Submit your idea in one of these session formats:
- Academic research presentations (10-minute presentation in a shared 50-minute session)
- Panel discussions with up to four panelists (50-minute session)
- Interactive workshops (50- or 120-minute session), or
- Poster presentations.
Guidelines for Submissions
Conference organizers will weigh topics based on the ability to promote diverse interests, viewpoints, and speakers. We strongly recommend that session proposals include speakers with diverse backgrounds at varying career stages and industry sectors. All presentations are planned to take place live and in person. Due to the limited timeframe of the event, we may not be able to accommodate all proposals or proposed speakers.
Session Tracks:
Leadership & Communication
Sessions in this track focus on developing skills and expertise in the field. It can include topics like leadership capacity, leaning into leadership and leadership methods, understanding communication methods, self-awareness and authenticity, giving and soliciting feedback, vulnerability in leadership, change management, advocacy and allyship, innovation, and future directions for the field.
Outreach, Training, Retention & Mentorship
This track includes sessions about ways the industry recruits, develops, and grows the next generation of women leaders. Topics may include exchanging ideas for outreach in K-12 education, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, employee resource group development and operations, internship experiences and opportunities, motherhood in construction, career planning, pathways and pivots, negotiating strategies, or strategic human resource development.
Equitable Safety & Gender-Based Hazards
Sessions in this track emphasize ways to consider women in the design of equitable safety. This can include topics such as creating a sustainable ordering program, advocating for gear that fits, identifying gender-based needs for sanitation, utilizing data to understand and prevent disparities, and understanding options for PPE, tools, and clothing for diverse groups.