WTUN Hackathon for Climate Action 2023
Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students from WTUN member institutions the WTUN Hackathon for Climate Action took place in November 2023.
The Hackathon challenged students to collaborate with peers across the world to tackle and issue of their choosing related to Climate Action. In the spirit of the WTUN’s commitment to the ethos of global citizenship, students from different WTUN member institutions, subject disciplines, countries and time zones were divided into teams to work together to address the UN Sustainability Development Goals: #13 Climate Action and #17 Partnerships for the goals. Teams collaborated to conceive new ideas and solutions, practicing innovation and entrepreneurship with real-life applications.
Watch: the Pre-Event, featuring Professor Shirley Congdon, Chair WTUN and Vice-Chancellor, University of Bradford, Dr David Harding, Suranaree University of Technology and Dr Suzanne Smit, University of Bradford, can be watched back here
Expert advice and guidance
The WTUN Hackathon for Climate Action 2023 took place online and over an intense and continuous 48 hour period. During this time we had a team of experts and mentors, volunteers from WTUN member institutions, delivering focussed masterclasses, and providing 24/7 mentoring and guidance. With this support, teams learned how to develop an initial idea through to the development of a final product or service.
Seven expert speakers delivered live masterclasses covering topics related to identification of a problem and initial idea, design thinking and ideation, value proposition, stakeholder engagement, impact assessment, business model development, potential funding opportunities and pitch preparation and presentation skills.
A big thank you to:
- Professor Paul Thorning, University of Bradford
- Mr Padraic Lynch, Atlantic Technological University
- Mr Lars Andersson, Suranaree University of Technology
- Mr Paul McCusker, Atlantic Technological University
- Dr Mullika Sungsanit, Suranaree University of Technology
- Dr Isobel Cunningham, Atlantic Technological University
- Una Quinn, Atlantic Technological University
and to the following for taking the time to pre-record a masterclass for the event:
- Dr Patipan Saelim, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
- Dr Martin Schoch, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
- Dr Gerald Weisz, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
The masterclasses can be viewed here- Resources
The Judging
In the final 2 hours of the Hackathon, teams were brought together one last time, for a live Pitch Event, where each team had just 5 minutes to present their idea, followed by 5 minutes of questions from the panel of judges.
Thank you to this year’s judges:
- Dr Mullika Sungsanit, Vice Rector of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Suranaree University of Technology and WTUN Operational Board Chair.
- Dr David Spicer, Professor of Small Business Development and Organisational Studies and Director of Business and Community Engagement at University of Bradford.
- Dr Klaus Zeppenfeld, Professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Art Dortmund and WTUN Lifetime Fellow.
6 teams pitched their product or service and the judges were thoroughly impressed with the quality, ingenuity, innovation and creativity on display. We have summarised the final pitches below:
Hacks/products/services were developed by 6 brilliant and dedicated teams addressing;
- Climate Action
- Food Waste
- Air Quality and ‘agro-preneurial’ intervention
- Disaster management and AI imaging
- Marine Pollution
- Circular Economy
- Energy consumption
The Winners!
The winning teams produced innovative solutions to accessing clean air, reducing food waste and recycling clothing towards a circular economy. The winners of the WTUN Hackathon for Climate Action 2023 are:
First prize of £2,000 is awarded to;
Team 12, ‘Green Titans‘
- Stefanie Kölbl, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
- Shaik Althaf, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
- R.S. Bhumishaa Ratheesh, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
- Emmanuel Kamoru Umoru, University of Bradford
Green Titans pitched an app which would support and incentivise the general public to track, reduce, and improve their household consumption.
Click the below image to view the winning deck:
Second Prize of £1,000 is awarded to;
Team 10, ‘The Cracker‘
- Khush Agarwal, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
- Ruby Jain, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
- Charles Ogun, University of Bradford
- Ebrahim Aliyou Wudu, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
The Cracker pitched a service which would support key industry partners, such as restaurants, to sustainably manage organic waste, promoting a circular economy.
Third Prize of £750 is awarded to;
Team 29, ‘Greeneriee‘
- Siddhant Deshpande, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
- Roghan G, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
- K. Thaniyasubhalaxmi Kanthasami, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
- Kanrawee Sisandsaup, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
Click the below image to view the winning deck:
Greeneriee pitched a product providing local fishermen with access to vital data and insights to adjust feeding schedules through a product of sensors installed within the aquaculture of their surroundings.
Congratulations to our winning teams!
Thank you to all of the people who made this event possible.