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:
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Problem Statement What problem exists and why it matters.
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Proposed Solution How your idea solves the problem.
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Target Users Who will use your solution.
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Sustainability Impact How it helps the environment.
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Technology Execution & Key Features What technology you use and the main features.
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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
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Create a digital poster briefing your solution
Bonus: GitHub Pages Site
Prizes
1st Place Excellence in Sustainable Technology Award
2nd Place Innovative Impact Award
Audience Choice Award
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Amy Andrews
Manager of Entrepreneurship & Sessional Instructor
Ron Myers
Venture Capitalist @Island Capital Ventures & CEO/Director @IT Alliance
Dr. Dania Tamayo-Vera
Assistant Professor
Christopher Vessey
Sessional Instructor/Systems Administrator/Laboratory Instructor
Dr. Benjamin Cameron
Assistant Professor
Judging Criteria
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Sustainability Impact (25%)
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Quality of Solution & Innovation (25%)
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Technical Execution (25%)
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Feasibility & Scalable Design (15%)
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Presentation & Demo (10%)
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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