Through its tech-driven water innovation competition, Erie Hack challenges local coders, designers, engineers, water experts and everyday citizens to think of creative solutions to some of Lake Erie’s biggest obstacles.
“At a time when critical funding for the health of Lake Erie is in jeopardy, it’s more important than ever for citizens to come together to produce homegrown, innovative solutions for the most precious resource in our region,” said Morgan Fitzgibbons, program director for Erie Hack.
The competition, which includes more than $100,000 in prizes, focuses on six individual challenges:
• Mitigate nutrient loading and its environmental impacts;
• Reduce and remediate urban pollution;
• Cultivate resilience in water infrastructure systems;
• Manage aging water infrastructure systems;
• Connect communities to the value of water; and
• Drive the creation of meaningful data.
One of the goals of Erie Hack is to engage young people in the emerging “blue economy”: the economic sector dedicated to sustaining freshwater bodies around the globe. One of the ways this is accomplished is by hosting hackathons in cities surrounding Lake Erie.
The regional Toledo Hackathon will begin Friday, March 24, at 6 p.m. and end Sunday, March 26, at 6 p.m. The competition will be held at Launchpad Incubation at UT, 1510 N. Westwood Ave.
Both individuals and teams not exceeding five members may compete. Participants must be 18 years of age or older to compete, unless he or she is on a high school team.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required in advance; click here.
For more information on Erie Hack, including full rules, judging criteria, tips to ensure success and prizes, visit eriehack.io/challenge.
