Pueblo Science invites you to take part in the 4th annual Hackathon for Science Education! Since 2019, the Hackathon has connected 240 innovative students with 126 volunteers and mentors to create STEM activity kits that address the UN’s sustainable development goals and are aligned with the kindergarten to grade 12 science curricula of low-resource communities around the world. These kits enable teachers to introduce hands-on science and engineering experiences into their classrooms and improve their students’ problem-solving skills, attitudes towards STEM, and concept uptake.

This year’s event will focus on developing STEM kits influenced by the culture of, and issues affecting, Canada’s Indigenous communities with the goal of increasing Indigenous student’s awareness of STEM and engagement in STEM education. Mentors knowledgeable in science and technology, education, Indigenous culture, and available resources will be available to provide input to all teams.

This year’s Hackathon will be a hybrid event held both in-person (for participants in the GTA) and online. The event will span over 2 weekends in September and is a great opportunity for participants and mentors to become leaders, builders, and innovators, network, and enjoy delicious catering while making a meaningful contribution to global education.

Winning projects will be incorporated into Pueblo Science’s outreach events in Ontario schools in 2023 and the winners’ names will be included as authors in the workshop manuals! Kits that are suitable for use in the Philippines, Thailand, Guyana, and Jamaica will also be used to train 600 teachers in 2023.  

In addition the top 3 teams will also recieve a cash prize and an opportunity to travel internationally with Pueblo Science!

1st Place: $500

2nd Place: $400

3rd Place: $300

People’s Choice: $300

Those interested in contributing to Pueblo’s Hackathon for Science Education can either do so as a competitor or a volunteer.

To compete in the Hackathon, participants must be both:

1. 18 years of age or older
2. a current post-secondary student, postdoctoral fellow, or recent graduate (max. 18 months since graduation)

If you are 18 years of age or older, but don’t fit the criteria above to compete, or would simply rather be involved in the logistics of the event without designing a kit, you are welcome to join us as a volunteer! To sign up, email us at hackathon@puebloscience.org.

All competitors will be part of a team of 3-5 members. If you already know who you would like to work with and are signing up with a team, all of the team’s members must sign up individually and specify their teammates on their individual applications.

If you do not have a team of 3-5 members, use the registration form to sign up as an individual and we will help match you with a team. If you have any questions, please send us an email at hackathon@puebloscience.org.

Sign up now! Registration closes on September 22nd at 8 AM.

You can register here for the information session running on August 25, 2022 at 6:30 PM EST (3:30PM PST) to learn more about the Hackathon!

Thanks to our generous sponsors, the Hackathon for Science Education is a FREE event.  However, a $20 deposit per competitor is required (which will be returned upon the completion of the hackathon). The deposit is to ensure that we do not waste material and resources. You may cancel your registration and receive a return of the $20 deposit until 11:59 pm ET on September 14, 2022.

All work must be done during the event, we will reveal the details of the specific topic on day 1 of the event. All projects with prior work done will be eliminated from judging. We will provide you with cash (via e-transfer) that you can use to buy all (and only) the material that you need to prototype your project. Please use your own laptop to work on the science kit manual, presentation, and to code (if your project needs it).

If you have any other questions, feel free to send us a message at hackathon@puebloscience.org or message us on Facebook here.

Proudly sponsored by U of T affinity partners: