Great Lakes
Hackathon Challenge

A group of students and researchers gathered around scientific equipment in a research laboratory.$500Prize
A $500 prize for the winning team.

Join solo or as a team and bring Great Lakes data to life through lights, sound, interactive dashboards, or something entirely new. We want to see your ideas!

SCROLL FOR A COOL BREAKDOWN

01 / AT THE SURFACE

A lake full
of questions.

Across the Great Lakes, scientists and researchers deploy monitoring equipment to observe how the water is changing.

Researchers wearing flotation suits aboard a boat with scientific monitoring equipment.
Research begins with people, equipment, and a question.

Follow the buoy beneath the surface

Yellow monitoring buoy with a solar-panel tower and instruments for collecting lake observations.

02 / BENEATH THE SURFACE

A different
perspective.

Below the float, scientific instruments help turn the lake’s changing conditions into observations.

03 / UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE

Signals from
the lake.

Buoys equipped with scientific sensors collect measurements such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and indicators of algal activity. These observations help researchers understand how conditions in the Great Lakes change over time.

A shared
freshwater future.

The Great Lakes support millions of people, provide drinking water, and sustain important ecosystems. Pollution, warming temperatures, and harmful algal blooms can threaten their health. Understanding these changes helps scientists and communities make informed decisions.

04 / YOUR CHALLENGE

Make the data
mean something.

Use real Great Lakes water-quality data and open hardware to create something that helps people connect with the lakes.

Water-quality data doesn’t have to live on a spreadsheet. It can become something people see, experience, and connect with.

There’s inspiration
to draw from.

Collage of a green illuminated waterfront installation, an electronics controller with lights, and a purple LED display.
Light. Hardware. A new way of seeing.Illustrative inspiration for what data can become.

CURIOSITY IS YOUR STARTING POINT

You bring the idea.
We’ll bring the tools.

You don’t have to arrive knowing how to build it. Bring your perspective, learn together, and see where it leads.

  1. Work in teams.

    Form or join a team and collaborate with other students.

  2. Use real Great Lakes data.

    Work with scientific water-quality measurements collected through research partnerships.

  3. Use provided equipment.

    Open hardware tools and equipment help bring your ideas to life.

  4. All skill levels welcome.

    No previous coding, electronics, design, or hackathon experience required.

  5. Create for public audiences.

    Build something engaging that helps others connect with Great Lakes water-quality information.

05 / TAKE THE PLUNGE

Your idea could
make waves.

No experience required. Bring your curiosity, work with a team, and create something worth sharing.

$500 for the winning team.

All experience levels welcome.
Your project could be showcased in public displays.

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