For those lucky enough, March is the time to saddle up because in a week, the city of Austin, Texas, will host the 2016 SXSW Interactive Festival. And as you may have guessed, Innovators Peak will be there. Guaranteed to be full of exciting events and good times, SXSW can be a bit daunting considering its scope. Luckily for you though, we did all the work. Below are our top picks perfect for Coloradans that will change your world. You can thank us later.

Already feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry: There are several lounges where you can network, recharge and relax between events. We’re already planning to hit up the Comcast Social Media Lounge to connect with major influencers. We’ll be the ones downing the coffee.

Prison Tech Boom: Social Outcomes and Entrepreneurs

Prison reform has been a hot topic, but did you know prison tech is booming? Find out more from the founders of Mission: Launch, a civic tech nonprofit that helps people reenter society after spending time in prison, and the founder of Flikshop, an app that lets the incarcerated receive personalized mail. Two of the speakers previously served time and will speak on their experiences and discuss best practices on how to support unlikely techies. // Friday, March 11, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown, 500 E Fourth St., Salon E

Hustler to Entrepreneur: Tech and Disconnected Youth

This panel discusses the abundance of creativity in the “hustle mentality” of disconnected youth that can ultimately develop into entrepreneurship with the right guidance. By discussing how TechTank, a program that fosters mentorships to build a local tech talent pipeline, worked to help Bronx youth become tech-savvy entrepreneurs, the speakers will discuss how to implement such programs in low-income areas. // Friday, March 11, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., JW Marriott, 110 E Second St., Salon C

Unapologetic Women Win Meetings in Jeans

This panel poses a question: Ever been in a meeting where the women are in suits and the men in jeans? From something like meeting attire emerges bigger issues related to being a woman in business like maternity leave and balancing work with family life. Featuring four leaders in Denver’s advertising and digital industries, this panel will offer solutions for success in industries that have yet to fully embrace gender equality from people who’ve been there. // Sunday, March 13, 5 p.m.-6 p.m., JW Marriott, 110 E Second St., Salon 7

Burning Man: From Free Play to Innovation Science

Coloradans know how to have fun, but who knew playfulness could be considered “a refined mechanism of evolution that acts as an engine of engagement and adaptability”? This expert panel – from an Oxford primatologist to a staff member of Burning Man – discusses how the creativity of play not only fosters social relationships, but is also “a precursor to innovation” and accordingly, how the future of innovation depends on tapping into our playfulness. // Monday, March 14, 5 p.m.-6 p.m., Westin Austin Downtown, 301 E Fifth St., Paramount 1

Next for NASA: The Journey to Mars

Considering Colorado’s growing role in the space game, this panel is for those wondering how far off The Martian is from happening IRL. First steps have already been taken with astronauts studying the effects of long-duration stays in space, but NASA is hardly slowing down. From the Kennedy Space Center being transformed into a next-generation spaceport to the world’s most powerful rocket undergoing manufacture and testing, find out from four NASA employees what we can expect to lead to the first steps on Mars. // Tuesday, March 15, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Austin Convention Center, 531 E Fourth St., Room 6AB

Smart Cars, Smarter Cities: New Transit Tech

Smartphones, smart cars, smart homes. What’s next for the Internet of Things? Smart cities, of course. With increasing network and mobile connectivity, there are new possibilities to address urban issues like congested highways and overburdened energy grids. This panel will examine the “physical architecture of smart, connected, shareable cities” from their appearance to transportation logistics to the impact of the sharing economy on urban living. // Saturday, March 12, 11 a.m.-noon, Austin Convention Center, 531 E Fourth St., Room 8ABC

Hacking the Brain to Treat Paralysis

After Ian Burkhart became paralyzed in 2010, he joined a clinical trial where a small chip was implanted in his brain. Months later, he became the first person to use brain implant technology to regain voluntary movement of paralyzed muscles. In this panel, Ian, his doctors and the engineer who developed the technology will discuss their shared journey and what’s to come of it. // Saturday, March 12, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., JW Marriott, 110 E Second St., Room 203-204 

Believing Is Seeing: Tech+Attitude Trumps Blindness

In need of some serious inspiration? Check out this panel featuring Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind person in history to climb Mount Everest who helps people “harness the power of adversity” to pioneer forward. The other speaker is founder of Not Impossible Labs Mick Ebeling, an award-winning producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who’s reached new heights in creating innovative healthcare. These barrier-breaking innovators will explore what’s now possible and what the future holds. // Sunday, March 13, 11 a.m.-noon, Austin Convention Center, 531 E Fourth St., Room 9ABC

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