Since its inception in 2012, the International Space Apps Challenge has become the biggest global hackathon, engaging thousands of citizens across the globe in working with NASA to design innovative solutions to global challenges. At the last Space Apps event in 2014, more than 8,000 global citizens in 46 countries and 95 cities participated. In 2015, the International Space Apps Challenge will ta
ke place in over 100 cities around the world and will feature dozens of challenges on the themes of Earth, Outer Space, Humans and Robotics. The success of Space Apps relies on local organizers around the world, who leverage contributions from hundreds of organizations that contribute expertise, financial resources, and in-kind support at the community level. At Space Apps events, teams of technologists, scientists, designers and entrepreneurs work together to develop answers to some of the most pressing challenges on earth and space using publicly available NASA data. This year, NASA is placing special emphasis on Women in Data. For the first time, NASA is offering a data bootcamp for participants interested in improving their skills with code, data and project advocacy. The bootcamp will be open to everyone and streamed online from the main stage event in NYC. In line with this year’s emphasis, the bootcamp will reach out to women’s organizations influential in the data and Making communities to participate, and encourage the participation of women-led teams in the hackathon. The International Space Apps Challenge is a global event composed of more than 100 local events and virtual participation from individuals around the world. The International Space Apps Challenge is technology development event that draws on the talents and initiative of bright minded volunteers – developers, engineers, technologists, designers, and anyone with a passion and desire to make an immediate impact on the world. The event embraces engagement and collaborations across borders, sectors and populations to bring about paradigm-shifting innovation around the world. What is the value? The International Space Apps Challenge demonstrates the application of untapped, unexpected, uncharted expertise in helping organizations solve tough challenges. It’s about rethinking and remixing what is known with what isn’t, and creating a pipeline for introducing and implementing new or recombinant ideas. Collaboration:
The International Space Apps Challenge is an unprecedented international collaboration between government agencies, organizations and academic institutions from around the world. Challenges / Solutions:
At the International Space Apps Challenge we open up challenges of space exploration and social need and empower citizens around the world to solve those challenges. The event engages a broad group of diverse participants in collective deliberation and action focused on generating innovative and relevant solutions to pressing problems. The exploration of space is, by necessity, a unified international effort - and diversity of experience and perspective inevitably produces a better product. The event draws on the talents and initiative of people from around the world, who volunteer their time to respond to real-world problems. Why Women in Data? The White House Council on Women and Girls has shown continual support for quality education and high paying career opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering, and math, promoting public leadership for girls, and expanding support for women entrepreneurs. NASA is committed to supporting those same objectives in the course of its work to provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of and engagement with its data. Women have historically been underrepresented at these types of events, and we are committed to supporting their engagement, learning and leadership in appropriate ways as we help build a strong and diverse community.
