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.

[{"selector":"#anim-00d1cfcc-3044-49b7-8954-5523ec0507ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f919e5db-3e85-4b40-bdbd-3e5ef7e54f93","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.84158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4200e32-265d-4399-b267-e48a138ec41e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3883550-935c-4a6d-9ba1-71ff0b20268f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e867b57-6cb2-4d67-a307-52a98e76b3f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65a14e2f-99c4-490d-9a1d-6f2c90a13398","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Over 400 students from 53 universities across 10 countries, including high school students, participate in the hackathon either in person or remotely.

[{"selector":"#anim-3b9d44d1-7936-47bd-ba73-b0a055e6239c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c122b41f-fd83-41fd-966d-0cd22dabbd80","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-101.69903%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d594de3a-9291-41bf-b72b-7a13cbb8509e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5eb7c7f9-1435-4776-bfea-df2382d0ce51","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.84158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e59cb75-7e86-4c5c-b555-174603a20bdb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c744fef5-8993-4697-b1cb-5468253a12b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Industry achievers, including a Nobel laureate, shared their expertise and insights on sustainability.

[{"selector":"#anim-693160c4-c701-4687-9fbc-f2fd006d5f66","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e21b348-89e2-4dfc-a7b6-bc718c142e6c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04a2c49a-c067-4424-89bc-eb4094d2905c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-925e1877-dbaf-4945-9eb0-e5f38189c059","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.84158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60e5faab-4fc9-4706-bf84-3c3dfbc3f383","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50f5f241-d7ee-4d1a-a9aa-afa599ac09d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

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".

[{"selector":"#anim-01789815-f307-461e-bf12-91f17e82ce36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12629b90-f842-4da0-bdf6-deb6ff719ff9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03dfbcc1-7df6-4768-9ad3-be9012736dcc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-122fb576-409a-410c-9620-c35e05f7e576","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.84158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c96fe240-d116-464d-a2fc-60b7f8743988","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31d81c57-b060-4517-9949-742ea1ee142d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

A web app called Upcycle, which connects users with local tailors to extend the lifespan of their clothes, won the $5,000 grand prize.

[{"selector":"#anim-40eaf93d-7652-4a0a-a11d-c4523e93643d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ab11dc7-021b-4286-9fdb-8feb9e43781b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe469aa2-6568-457e-9b3e-e163e495a4f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a5e03ed-869f-44d6-b212-b68cb53ab9fd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.84158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-469457be-719b-4cb4-9206-fc65005fbf81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b8bb0cc-bf34-4c45-aa5a-d5d331abca53","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

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.

[{"selector":"#anim-a30216ac-f980-4a9b-a681-35ec7d517249","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0bf2001b-a546-478d-8ad9-cd6c748e8631","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8a22cea-c319-4219-9a32-f352a82b73cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e333c187-f7d7-4bb9-8be2-bbe15712b19f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.82179%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-06aaa1b8-a6fe-4869-ba7c-97e0fd364c7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3aa18ab-6d58-4194-b2c3-f975aa2b2a8a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The student submissions were judged upon their impact, feasibility, prototype, and presentation.

[{"selector":"#anim-a09fa6c6-352c-474c-8bf7-fa208c484f84","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f1f71d3-104d-4ced-a894-e6393f3abba5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d5bff42-9659-47a2-8292-2237e30872c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2fc48c6-6022-48ff-9172-f01af7f13525","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.82179%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40bc3b8d-339f-41b9-b76d-28dc154f8de2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51d44fef-b54d-4a19-b720-ddce3a6b515e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Hacktech's organizers aim to hold the competition again in October this year to align with the tech industry recruitment cycle.

[{"selector":"#anim-e98706ba-0b4e-4532-9cd3-d2475372436d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-650f7d4b-6df7-46d0-b1a2-b212460c1d35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4eed579a-5708-42d6-9819-68a3843bfe6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67a32988-e0ec-4641-85c0-8fa493a3bb0a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.82179%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff62ff9a-b8d9-4053-af65-c0fb2d895ddc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-325bec06-b457-4a7b-8b82-dd8e401a4e56","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Hacktech's organizers aim to hold the competition again in October this year to align with the tech industry recruitment cycle.

[{"selector":"#anim-dcb13d03-6e2f-4b6b-9d37-6171300e049c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-979ada2f-55aa-4144-86c5-437f3f198eb0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1dd5bd07-58a8-44ea-95b9-af2673c7888b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50bdb934-d4b1-49cf-acb9-76abbe112716","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.82179%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c299ef12-699d-40dc-be0c-657ae31aba94","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5024b300-9da4-4da3-a58e-bcf576f97ef1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(278.57145%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

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".

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.

Hacktech's organizers aim to hold the competition again in October this year to align with the tech industry recruitment cycle.

MORE STORIES