2020 HATCH | HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge
Event Information
Description
Powered by HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Urban Engine and Acclinate Genetics
Description: The HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge is a unique event to engage the development community and take on challenges in life sciences using business strategy, software development and technology.
Goal: Inspire creativity through collaboration, and energize the current and next generation of problem-solvers to conceive and construct innovative solutions to biotech challenges.
$5,000 in prize money is up for grabs!
Date: March 6-8, 2020
Location: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Paul Propst Center, 800 Hudson Way NW, Huntsville, AL
Cost: $10/participant
Challenges:
Challenge 1: Target Locked
Make the life of a genomic data analyst a little more enjoyable by building a tool that can complete real time searches, prioritizations, and digests of the academic literature needed to support the diagnosis of rare disease. Bring your best weapons, as this challenge requires both precision and accuracy.
Challenge 2: All in the Family
You may not have known about your cousin’s early onset Alzheimer’s, but your second cousin, once removed did. Family history is only as good as the person providing it, but building the tools in this challenge will make it better by connecting family history data from seemingly unrelated individuals into super-family structures and calculating the confidence for each connection.
Challenge 3: Make it Pop!
Genome analysis requires much more than staring at A, T, C and G combinations on a screen. Visualization of gene data comes in many different forms and they are displayed differently based on the type. A keen eye, solid data management, and a beautifully artistic mind will be needed to create tools to combine the visualization of many different genetic changes into one view.
Challenge 4: Get Moving
Your mother wrecked snowboarding this winter and has some lasting lower back pain. Although your mom is now a YouTube star for becoming a human snowball, she wants some relief for her pain and wants to have fun while doing it. Join efforts with the CFD Research team to integrate wearable sensors into a video game that your mom will love to play and provides her the physical therapy she needs.
Judging Criteria:
Impact - How much impact (quality and quantity) can this solution have? Does this solution address the problem in a highly significant way?
Creativity - How creative is the team’s approach? Is the solution new? Does the solution represent something that isn’t being addressed by the market?
Complexity - How much progress did the team make during the event? Did they start from scratch or build on an existing solution?
Product - How user friendly is the technology? How fully formed/mature is the idea?
Presentation - Did the team effectively communicate their solution? Did they tell the story of the project and why it is important in a compelling way? How well did they respond to questions from judges?
General Tech Challenge Rules:
* There are no limits to the size of teams, but we find that teams of 3-5 people work better for hackathons. Also, only 5 people per team will qualify for prizes if they win.
* Participants must sign up for the event in Eventbrite and sign all of the waivers in order to to participate.
* Participants may come and go as they like during the event. However, high school students must depart by 11:30pm Saturday night and may return at 6:00am Sunday morning.
* All code must be created during the event. Use of open source libraries are allowed as long as the project is publicly available. Use of commercial software is also allowed.
* Use of design mocks or wireframes will not be allowed during the presentation. We want real working software and apps.
* Presentations will be strictly limited to 5 minutes with an additional 2 minutes for questions from the judges.
* Participants must provide their own laptops, and mobile/tablet devices for use during the event.
* Come on your own or create a team. We also want to encourage collaboration among attendees so if you find a team or person with a valuable asset to support your idea/concept, feel free to team up when you arrive.
* External hard drives are permitted for the hacking event itself. If you want a power strip bring it!
FAQ’s:
1. What is HATCH (HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge)?
HATCH (HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge) is a hackathon hosted by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. During this two-day event, teams take on exciting challenges in biotech and attempt to solve those challenges through innovation and creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about some of the new frontiers in biotech, and work collaboratively to create solutions.
2. Who can participate?
High school students, college students and adults interested in taking on challenges are welcome! There are two categories of teams: high school and college/adult. You don’t have to be a member of a team to sign up. We’ll make sure to get you on one!
3. I don’t have a team. Now what?
It is not necessary to be a part of a team entering HATCH (HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge). At the beginning of the event, we will have a team-building exercise in which you can identify the best “fit” for your interests and skills. You also can choose to work independently - but hackathon participants say half the fun is the collaboration and creativity that occurs within a team dynamic.
4. Where will it take place?
HATCH (HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge) will take place at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in the Paul Propst Center, located at 800 Hudson Way in Huntsville, AL, 35806. Participants will have access to several large work areas, conference rooms and collaboration spaces throughout the building.
5. Why are you hosting this event?
Good science comes from a combination of a solid background of knowledge, a creative idea, and the ability to work with data. Increasingly, science problems are being solved through the application and manipulation of big data. The HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge is a great opportunity to introduce the coding community – and students – to genomics, genetics and the future of biotechnology.
6. Does it cost money?
We are charging $10/person to participate. This covers all food and beverages, a T-shirt, swag, and other fun stuff.
7. What is genomics and biotech?
At it’s core, biotechnology uses biological processes (organisms, proteins, enzymes, genes) to create or enhance products that impact life. Modern biotechnology is powered by our understanding of DNA: specifically how genetic instructions create the building blocks of life and that changes in those DNA instructions alter physical characteristics associated with human health, agriculturally important plants and livestock and bio-based sources of energy. Today’s technologies generate enormous amounts of genetic information, requiring new tools to organize, analyze and visualize this data.
8. What if I don’t know anything about biotech and genetics, or writing code? Can I still come?
Absolutely! Learning is a big component of HATCH (HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge). We will offer workshops on the science to get you up to speed. Also, mentors will be available on and off throughout the two days to offer advice and answer your questions. The challenges will require a variety of skillsets, so if writing code isn’t one of them, don’t worry.
9. Where do I sleep?
Adults (no high school students) are welcome to spend the night so they may continue working at whatever hours suit them best. Bring a sleeping bag, a pillow, and toiletries. A quiet room will be available for sleeping or napping as needed. We do not have showers or bathing facilities in the building. High school students will be required to leave the HudsonAlpha campus by 11:30 PM Saturday night and may return to the Tech Challenge at 6:00 AM Sunday morning.
10. Who will be there?
Students, professionals, scientists, software developers and more.
11. Will the media be there?
We are providing several windows for media to cover the event. HudsonAlpha and Urban Engine staff will be publicizing the Tech Challenge through social media channels. Additionally, HudsonAlpha communications staff and Urban Engine staff will be taking photos and video to document the event. Participants will be required to sign a release form. Minors will need the signature of a parent.
12. What is Urban Engine?
Urban Engine, formerly New Leaf Digital, propels the growth of North Alabama’s economy and accelerates STEAM innovation by connecting aspiring entrepreneurs and established business leadership to educational resources, talent, and community. Urban Engine is the Huntsville-based nonprofit organization that facilitates CoWorking Night, 32/10, community hackathons and OpenHuntsville.com)
13. What can I win?
Cash and prizes will be up for grabs.
I still have a question. Who can I contact?
Please email: techchallenge@hudsonalpha.org
