No coding experience needed! Solutions don't have to be app or website-based!

About the Challenge:

Climate change is among the most urgent issues of our time.

2011-20 was the Earth's warmest decade in recorded history, and up to one million species are at risk of extinction due to climate change. Tens of millions will be displaced from their homes because of it. The Climate Action Tracker anticipates a 4 degrees increase in global temperatures by 2100 if we keep at our current trajectories... The delicate balance that we have on Earth is at risk.

So, what do we do about it? The need for action & innovation is more urgent than ever. And to make headway in addressing the problem, it will not be a "magic bullet" that solves everything, but rather the joint efforts of engineers, artists, coders, educators, politicians, business-people & others coordinating with a variety of differenc solutions to make a difference.

Our challenge: Can you create that next big solution to our climate change dilemma?

The Logistics:

Some of these details may change closer to the date, but in brief: You will have Friday to Sunday evening EST to work on original ideas that can make a difference to our climate crisis (not submitted to past hackathons or developed at a significant level in other places). We will recommend teams of 2-5 (NOTE: We amended this to allow for teams of two), which can come pre-formed and which can also be developed before/ during the hackathon, with a Slack channel TBA to help with matching. Be sure to check the team eligibility requirements as well.

During the hackathon, at least one team member will be expected to join two workshops during the course of the event (on the business model canvas & pitching), in addition to the very first intro session and at least one session with a mentor that you will need to book.

A final note that the submission itself with be a four-minute video, with finalists then being invited to present their solutions live at the Ocean Bridge National Conference on March 6-7 (more details TBA).

Themes:

Over the course of this 48-hour hackathon, we will focus on four sets of challenges that will need to addressed as we fight climate change. These are described below:

1. The Environmental Challenge:

• Acidification, plastic pollution and other ocean-related impacts
• Food waste and the promotion of greener choices for what we eat (e.g. Seaweed!)
• Deforestation, desertification and soil degradation as a result of climate change
• The loss of biodiversity as temperatures warm and fluctuate
• Or any other environmental issue that relates to climate change!

2. The Economic Challenge:

• Green investing and divestments
• Carbon taxes and other incentive systems to promote greener choices
• Solutions related to promoting/ developing renewable energy sources
• Solutions related to making current renewable options more sustainable/ feasible
• Or any other issues that relate to growing the green/ blue economy

3. The Socio-Cultural Challenge:

• Promoting environmental behaviors and quantifying individual impact
• The climate refugee crisis that has already begun with sea level rise
• The question of incorporating indigenous and immigrant perspectives in our knowledge
• Motivating political action, for instance to coordinate climate strikes or international colloboration
• Or any other issue that relates to the socio-cultural impacts of climate change

4. The Information Challenge

• Addressing gaps in climate research
• Making current research more accurate (for example, climate change modeling)
• Innovating climate change education for all age groups
• Guarding against disinformation
• Or any other issue that relates to education/ information processes around climate change

Throughout the weekend, there may be educational workshops, mentorship sessions, networking opportunities, and more! And if you have a solution that fits in multiple themes or cannot fit in just one, connect with us & we'll try to help figure out the best category.

About the Organizers: 

The OATHE Project is an environmental non-profit that rests on a very simple idea: that small acts add up. Put another way, that 1 + 1 + .... + 1 = possibly something incredible, with the only limitation being the 1's we have in between. At its core, it is about making a commitment, to each other, but most importantly to ourselves. It’s about doing the little things that make a difference. Find out more at https://www.oneactatatime.org.

Earth Hacks looks to harness the power of hackathons to develop student-driven solutions to the climate crisis. They believe that everyone, from engineers to English majors, brings a unique and necessary skill set to the climate crisis, and they works directly with students/ organizations who want to mitigate their environmental anxiety and actually act on it. Find out more about their work helping witth environmental hackathons and innovation at  https://earthhacks.io.

SURGE is an innovation sandbox based in based out of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Science, offering workshops, events, and other resources that complement the training offered in a traditional science degree to provide students with the skills needed to develop innovative solutions to real problems. Their goal is to empower students to lead and make the world a better place through science. Find out more at https://www.surgeinnovation.ca.

Ocean Wise is a Canadian-based organization that looks to inspire the global community to become Ocean Wise by increasing its understanding, wonder and appreciation for our oceans. They run many programs, but the Ocean Bridge program that is sponsoring this hackathon connects Canadian youth from coast to coast to coast, empowering them to make a difference towards ocean conservation. Find out more at https://bridge.ocean.org.

This hackathon does not happen with the support of the partners above: a big thank you to all!

$CAD5,000 in prizes

• TBD