Space Apps Challenge 2019: a global hackathon with NASA open data
For the eighth consecutive year, NASA organizes Space Apps, an international hackathon, where participating teams will have to solve real challenges related to Earth observation.
What does it consist of?
Programmers, scientists, storytellers, designers, and anyone interested in space science and data exploration can share their knowledge to design innovative solutions that respond to issues related to different categories:
- Earth's oceans
- Our moon
- Planets near and far
- To the stars
- Living in our world
- Invent ypour own challenge
To respond to these challenges, participants will have to use free and open data sets available in the NASA open data portal.
The solutions to the challenges can be technological, scientific or even artistic: from designing a low-cost method to provide internet connection in remote areas or improving NASA's predictive models, to creating a game that allows customizing stars and planets or devising mechanisms that help to better communicate the rising sea levels.
When and where?
The hackathon is celebrated on the weekend of October 18-20 in different cities that will receive the participants simultaneously. In the case of Spain, the events will take place in Alicante, Almería, Burgos, Madrid, Murcia, Salamanca, Seville, Valencia, Valladolid and Zaragoza. However, citizens can still hack virtually from just about anywhere on planet Earth.
Although citizens can participate independently, it is recommended to be part of a team.
Why participate?
In 2018, more than 18.000 people from 75 countries and 200 cities around the world participated in the Space App.
The advantages of participating in a hackathon are multiple. On the one hand, it allows expanding the experience in a specific area, improving creativity and promoting the acquisition of new technical skills. On the other hand, having to work in -often multidisciplinary- teams helps to develop some of the so-called soft skills, such as organization or effective communication.
If you are interested in participating in the Space App 2019, you can register through the following link.
