For all future engagement in Hack the Bay, please register via Devpost at hack-the-bay.devpost.com!

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Hack the Bay Team at sgaglione_caroline@bah.com, and gonzalez_valeria@bah.com

Thank you!

In celebration of the 50-year anniversary of Earth Day and Water Quality Month, Booz Allen Hamilton has partnered with the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC), coordinated by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Izaak Walton League of America, Dickinson College's Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, to host Hack the Bay, a virtual, six week-long hackathon to explore data monitoring the health of the watershed. From August 3rd to September 14th, we invite any and all participants to explore CMC’s data and create solutions to address some of their core challenges. By exploring the Bay’s chemical and wildlife observations and their intersection with other geospatial, temporal, environmental and demographic data, we hope to further empower decision-making and inspire action for watershed restoration.

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REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR WITH A TEAM

Teams should consist of no more than 6 members.

The Hackathon is open to participants 18+ of all geographic areas.

The Hackathon will open at 12:00pm ET (noon) on Monday, August 3. Complete entries should be submitted by 11:59pm ET on Monday, September 14.

We encourage participants to register as individuals or on behalf of their teams as soon as challenges are decided. Instructions for getting your teams set up on the online platform, as well as access to data sources and background research for each of the challenges, will be shared in advance with registered attendees.

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SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THE CHALLENGES

Please select only one of the following when registering:

Challenge 1: Developing a Water Quality Case Study (Time Series / Visualization challenge)

Using data from CMC, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and supplementary sources, tell a story about how water quality has changed over time in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Challenge 2: Identifying Data Gaps (GIS / Mapping challenge)

With one or more visualizations, demonstrate how and where CMC’s data fills the gaps in the Chesapeake Bay Program’s database, and where data gaps in the watershed still exist. Provide an analysis that recommends locations and parameters that CMC should prioritize for new data collection, and why.

Challenge 3: Modeling Water Pollution (Machine Learning / Deep Learning challenge)

CMC’s water quality indicators can be linked to types of pollution in the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Analyze potential causes and/or build a predictive model for pollution in a section of the Bay using CMC, CBP, and supplementary geospatial datasets.

Challenge 4: Designing a Water Quality Report Card (Design/Web Dev challenge)

Design a local or regional version of the Chesapeake Bay report card that ties water quality to the values of communities living in the watershed.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY

After you and your team have explored the challenge, enter the following to be competitive for the finalist selection:

• 3-6 slides outlining the solution and key findings

• Code used to explore the data or develop solutions

• Design files/templates/specifications (for challenge 4)

• Short video explaining your results and process

Entries should cite data sources, borrowed code, models, or references to papers or other research.

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WINNERS

The most compelling entries in each track will be invited to virtually present their findings to a distinguished panel from the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative, Booz Allen Hamilton, and other experts in the field. Winners will also be recognized in post-event press and publications about the event.

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FAQs

Are there any age requirements to join the Hackathon?

You must be 18 or older to join the Hackathon.

Is the Hackathon free to join?

Yes. This event is completely free throughout all stages of the Hackathon.

What is the timeline of the Hackathon?

The virtual Hackathon will launch on Monday, August 3 and participants are encouraged to register in advance to have updated instructions and information on getting set up on our online platforms. The deadline for challenge submissions is 11:59pm ET on Monday, September 14th. We ask participants to follow the Requirements for Entry steps above in order to qualify for entry. The entries will be reviewed in September and the teams with winning submissions will be invited to virtually present their findings to stakeholders and be recognized in post-event press.

How are teams supposed to collaborate digitally?

Instructions for getting set up with a team on our virtual platform(s) will be shared with registrants before the competition launches. In addition to these platforms, participants are encouraged to use additional tools or technologies to collaborate as they choose.

Will I be able to use code from previous projects I may have worked on?

Yes, but only if that code is considered open source, and does not branch from any proprietary software or solutions built for or owned by you or your team.

I don't know how to code! Can I still compete?

Yes! This Hackathon is meant to be an inclusive, safe, and most importantly FUN learning environment. Challenge 4 is our least code-intensive track; however, if you're up for the challenge, we encourage you to sign up for whichever track you are most interested in.

Can I prepare anything in advance for the event?

We encourage you and your team members to brainstorm your idea before the event by, for example, making mockups or exploring and cleaning your data. However, no coding or development work can begin until the event officially kicks off.

Do teams have to use any particular language or framework to compete in the Hackathon?

No. Teams are encouraged to use additional tools or technologies they are most comfortable with or, if they want a challenge, something they may not have worked with before. The goal is to have fun, learn something new, and build a better tomorrow.

What if I don't have a team?

You can participate in this event as an individual or with a team! If you prefer to work with a team, register for your chosen challenge and we will place you in a team with other participants that complement your skillsets as best we can.

What if my team is bigger than 6?

Please break down your team to any smaller number than 6

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please contact Valeria Gonzalez at gonzalez_valeria@bah.com for questions regarding the event.