Students Harness Technology for Sustainability at Caltech's Hacktech

Hacktech is organized by Caltech, an annual intercollegiate coding challenge that empowers students to create projects addressing issues in sustainability. Over 400 students from 53 universities across 10 countries, including high school students, participate in the hackathon either in person or remotely.

Industry achievers, including a Nobel laureate, shared their expertise and insights on sustainability. SolarSense, a model based on machine learning that predicts the most efficient spots to place solar panels, won the prize for “Best Use of AI/Machine Learning”.

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A web app called Upcycle, which connects users with local tailors to extend the lifespan of their clothes, won the $5,000 grand prize. The winning project, made by four students from different colleges in India and California, showcases the competition’s scope to foster international connections and interactions between students.

The student submissions were judged upon their impact, feasibility, prototype, and presentation. Hacktech’s organizers aim to hold the competition again in October this year to align with the tech industry recruitment cycle. During the opening event, Bren Professor of Chemistry, Jonas Peters, encouraged all the competitors to apply their quantitative skills towards issues in sustainability.

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Hacktech’s organizers called in distinguished guests to teach the tech-hackers something new, induce excitement for the future of sustainability, and inspire them to start their own start-ups. Hacktech certainly provides an opportunity for students to tackle global problems in sustainability and build innovative solutions that are essential for the planet’s present-day situation. The competition’s success demonstrates that students can unite and utilize technology to address challenges in sustainability.

Rahul Somvanshi

Rahul, possessing a profound background in the creative industry, illuminates the unspoken, often confronting revelations and unpleasant subjects, navigating their complexities with a discerning eye. He perpetually questions, explores, and unveils the multifaceted impacts of change and transformation in our global landscape. As an experienced filmmaker and writer, he intricately delves into the realms of sustainability, design, flora and fauna, health, science and technology, mobility, and space, ceaselessly investigating the practical applications and transformative potentials of burgeoning developments.