About the challenge

Design and build a solution that addresses a real sustainability challenge. Your solution tackles the problem AND reflect that you understand the problem.

Demonstrate how technology and thinking outside the box can drive meaningful and practical change. Solution will be evaluated on understanding of the problem, sustainability impact, innovation, technical execution, feasibility, and scalability.

Get started

  • Form a team
  • Identify a sustainability problem you care about
  • Start breaking down and turning your ideas into a working solution
  • Use the hackathon period to research, design, narrow down and build a functional prototype that demonstrates your solution.
  • Make use of all resources provided to brainstorm, design and complete the solution.
  • Be ready to showcase your project during the expo and explain impact, approach,future potential and MOST IMPORTANTLY HOW IT SOLVES THE PROBLEM

Expectations

As participants of this hackathon, your team is expected to identify a problem , design and build a minimum viable product (e.g basic functioning app) for the minimum viable audience.

Do not stress! Your application does not need to meet industry standards. Identify the core problem and required feature(s). At the expo you are expected to demonstrate your solution that must simply solve a real sustainbility issue, thus showcasing your team's inguenity and ability to identify and solve problems.

This competition is an opportunity to creatively find real problems and create solutions for them, collaborate with like-minded people and most importantly learn and develop your problem-solving skills learn under the joint banner of computer, sustainability and environmental sciences.

Have an open mind, come to learn and build. Take a deep breath before you begin, and good luck!

Common Questions

  • What does the process of identifying a problem, designing, and building a solution involve?

It means exploring a real-world problem with curiosity and creativity, then thoughtfully designing and building a solution even if the answer isn’t already known. The focus is on learning, collaboration, and innovation

  • What are good principles for my first hackathon?

Solve a problem for a small group of people e.g solve it for 1-2 people . And if you are unsure - ask mentors ( Free help and a leg over other teams you can get just by asking questions)

  • Can I just create slide desks?

Concept only ideas or slide desks without a working demonstration DO NOT QUALIFY

  • Can i create a prototype on Figma?

Well then you have no chance of winning - sorry not sorry! 

  • What platforms can I build my solution/project?

Projects may be built for any platform, including web applications, mobile apps, desktop software, or command-line tools. The platform choice should be appropriate for the problem being solved and must be demonstrable in person during the exhibition. Hardware-based projects are only permitted if the software component is central to the solution.

 

Requirements

What to Build

Build a software application or tool that aims at promoting sustainability by solving problems in key areas of environment impact. The ‘solution’ will be evaluated for its impact on sustainability, problem-solving quality, innovation, technical execution, feasibility and scalability.

What to Submit

Submission Package 
In the submission document, you will outline the following:
  • Problem Statement  What problem exists and why it matters.
  • Proposed Solution  How your idea solves the problem.
  • Target Users  Who will use your solution.
  • Sustainability Impact   How it helps the environment.
  • Technology Execution & Key Features   What technology you use and the main features.
  • Scalability and Feasibility Plan  How it can grow and if it is realistic to build
Repo Link + Digital Poster
  • Provide a link to your team's GitHub repository, and provide screenshots in your ReadMe for references 
  • Create a digital poster briefing your solution

Bonus: GitHub Pages Site

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$1,250 in prizes
1st Place Excellence in Sustainable Technology Award
$650 in cash
1 winner

2nd Place Innovative Impact Award
$500 in cash
1 winner

Audience Choice Award
$100 in cash
1 winner

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Amy Andrews

Amy Andrews
Manager of Entrepreneurship & Sessional Instructor

Ron Myers

Ron Myers
Venture Capitalist @Island Capital Ventures & CEO/Director @IT Alliance

Dr. Dania Tamayo-Vera

Dr. Dania Tamayo-Vera
Assistant Professor

Christopher Vessey

Christopher Vessey
Sessional Instructor/Systems Administrator/Laboratory Instructor

 Dr. Benjamin Cameron

Dr. Benjamin Cameron
Assistant Professor

Judging Criteria

  • Sustainability Impact (25%)
  • Quality of Solution & Innovation (25%)
  • Technical Execution (25%)
  • Feasibility & Scalable Design (15%)
  • Presentation & Demo (10%)

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Tell your friends

Hackathon sponsors

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.