NASA Space Apps Challenge returns to Dublin and National College of Ireland

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge, the world’s largest annual global hackathon, is set to return to Dublin on October 5-6, 2024. The event will once again be hosted at National College of Ireland (NCI), which proved to be the perfect Mission Control Center in 2023, offering outstanding facilities, warm welcomes, and exceptional academic mentoring to participants.

Last year, the Space Apps Challenge saw an impressive 57,999 participants from over 185 countries and territories. This year’s global theme, “The Sun Touches Everything,” invites participants to tackle one of 21 Challenges using space data and information. These Challenges span a wide range of topics, from astrobiology to space music and the design of games for astronauts.

The organizers are particularly excited to welcome participants from primary and secondary schools, as well as non-technical individuals. The Space Apps Challenge is a unique opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with space science and technology, nurturing creativity and innovation in a collaborative environment.

The upcoming Space Apps Challenge has an impressive display of Global Collaborators, including Microsoft, Google, and Tableau, and the Dublin organizing board is actively seeking Local Collaborators from the Irish space industry, as well as non-space-related businesses looking to connect with the increasingly appealing space sector. This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to be part of a global event, to enjoy international visibility and to support the next generation of innovators.

What sets the Space Apps Challenge apart is its inclusivity. It is a hackathon open to everyone, not just scientists, coders, and engineers. Participants work in teams, and often, non-technical skills are the key to creating winning projects. In Dublin, participants will be supported by Mentors, who will help them develop their projects to the highest standard.

At the end of the hackathon, a Community Choice Award will be presented to the best project, and a renowned Jury Panel from Irish academia, business, project management, and communications will select the Global Nominee. This project will advance to the final global judging stages, culminating in the announcement of ten Global Winners. Members of the global winning teams will be invited to NASA for the prize-giving ceremony and will have the chance to develop their projects with the support of NASA and 15 national and regional Space Agencies that are partners of the hackathon.

For more information and to register for the event, visit the NASA Space Apps Dublin webpage.

Commenting on the collaboration for this year’s NASA Space Apps Challenge, Professor Paul Stynes, Dean of NCI’s School of Computing, said:

“National College of Ireland has an ethos of lifelong learning and inclusion and practices innovation and resilience through knowledge transfer. Being Dublin Mission Control for this exciting, all-ages, global hackathon, addressing real-world problems through collaboration and invention, is a perfect fit for NCI, and we look forward to welcoming participants to our campus at NCI Mayor Square.”

Commenting on the collaboration with the National College of Ireland as the local venue for the NASA Space Apps Challenge for the second consecutive year, Dublin Local Lead Paola Vercesi said:

“The NASA Space Apps Challenge Dublin is proud to continue its collaboration with the National College of Ireland for the second consecutive year. NCI stands out as an academic hub of innovation and excellence, drawing a diverse group of students from across the globe and fostering an impressive international network of accomplished alumni.

This is why NCI represents the perfect ecosystem to host Dublin participants in the largest annual global hackathon, open to all cultures, backgrounds and skillsets. Join us at NCI on October 5 and 6, share your visions on the universe, science, Earth preservation, and community life. At the NASA International Space Apps Challenge, there’s always space for one more.”