'Take Action' from home with NASA International Space Apps Challenge
On October 2-4, the United States space agency National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) invites coders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers,
storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists to come together in
a global, virtual hackathon. During a period of 48 hours, participants from
around the world will come together to create virtual teams and solve
challenges using NASA’s open-source data.
Designed for those interested in space science and exploration, this
hackathon allows the next generation of scientists, technologists,
designers, and engineers to showcase their creativity and problem-solving
skills through inspired collaboration and critical thinking.
As part of Space Apps, everyone belongs to a global hackathon community that
embraces collaboration across borders, sectors, and cultures to bring about
paradigm-shifting innovation.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the interest of the global
community’s health and safety, this year’s hackathon will be an
all-virtual event. In other words, all events shall be moved online. In
this unprecedented time, the Space Apps community exists as a reminder
that everyone has the tools and talents to tackle the challenges facing
the planet, as well as the ability to unite across boundaries and borders
of all kinds.
The theme for this year -- "Take Action" -- is a critical reminder that
anyone can make a difference, even from the comfort and safety of home.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) of France, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will be
partnering again with NASA for this hackathon.
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| Space Apps throughout the years in the Philippines. |
Since Space Apps is brought to the Philippines by developer and
technology community leader Tzar C. Umang from Pangasinan last 2016, the
country witnessed on how the community grew from a group of volunteers
to forging partnerships with collaborators and stakeholders. The
Philippines produced global winners like the dengue hotspot predictor
Project AEDES and information portal G.I.D.E.O.N. measuring COVID-19
impact, both developed by CirroLytix. The country also has global
finalists like Celestial Snails from De La Salle University addressing
social isolation and Sentinellium, an epidemic predictor using
population density data, both addressing problems caused by the
coronavirus pandemic.
While recognition and honor were given to the Philippines by NASA and
partner agencies, lead organizer Michael Lance M. Domagas hopes that
the country would soon realize the importance and value of giving
support and assistance in the development of these winning projects,
so that fellow Filipinos would benefit from these technologies coming
from outer space in times of emergencies like COVID-19 and dengue
epidemic. "Space Apps is a perfect venue that can arouse curiosity and
interest of Filipinos to science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM), including space and Earth sciences. Our own
country's support should have been a way to inspire more Filipinos and
further develop winning projects," he said. Space Apps can be a
program in developing "space education and promote public awareness"
stated in Section 8 of the
Republic Act 11363
otherwise known as the "Philippine Space Act."
"The Global Organizing Team is inspired by the journey the Philippines
has with the Space Apps program. In particular, we appreciate the
development of STEM in the Philippines and elsewhere, because one goal
of Space Apps is to foster interest and learning in these fields
worldwide," according to Matt Scott, the Global Community Director and
Storyteller.
Register now on these sites:
Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized in
collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and
the NASA Open Innovation Applied Sciences Program.
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