We are the BTU Lab, and we Blow Things Up. Srsly. The BTU Lab is a place for experimentation and hacking. We make science fiction science fact and vice versa.

We are located in the ATLAS building, Room 113.

The BTU Lab wears three hats: A student hackerspace, a residency for ATLAS graduate student desks, and at times, a classroom. The lab operates within the ATLAS Institute, but lab membership is open to individuals from all fields of study.

We are inclusive and love to share knowledge as an open source space. The BTU Lab is driven by the lab members. We host workshops, Open Hack Nights, and communal projects. Our projects might be fiber based, electrical, robotic, or a combination of all. Members of this lab might be doing homework, working on research, starting a company, or imagining the future. We are a community, not a tool check out.

Hackerspace Application & Membership

To become a member of the BTU lab, you must apply, take an orientation to the space / tool class and agree with our policies. You will be emailed orientation times once we accept your application form. Applications are accepted and orientations are given the first two months of each semester.

Code of Conduct & Anti-Harassment Policy

All BTU Lab events and the BTU Lab space have an anti-harassment policy in addition the University Honor Code! Here is our policy:

The BTU Lab is dedicated to providing a respectful and harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of people at our events or space in any form. People violating these rules may be asked to leave or expelled from the BTU Lab space or the event.

Harassment includes:

  • Offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion.
  • Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, education choices, parenting, drugs, and employment.
  • Any form of continued ‘splaining.
  • Deliberate misgendering or use of ‘dead’ or rejected names
  • Gratuitous or off-topic sexual images, innuendos or behavior in spaces where they’re not appropriate
  • Deliberate intimidation
  • Threats of violence
  • Following or Stalking
  • Photography or recording without consent
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events
  • Inappropriate physical contact, and physical contact after being asked to stop.
  • Unwelcome sexual attention
  • Pattern of inappropriate social contact, such as requesting/assuming inappropriate levels of intimacy with others
  • Creating an unsafe space physically, verbally or emotionally
  • Continued one-on-one communication after requests to cease

Consequences

People asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Any behavior or action experienced or reported as harassment will be responded to as such.

Reporting

If you are being harassed by a member of the BTU Lab, or a person at one of our events, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please email Leelee (leelee.james@colorado.edu) or speak to an administrator upstairs to set up a time for a private conversation.

Confidentiality

We will respect confidentiality requests for the purpose of protecting victims of abuse.