Western Washington University’s Institute for Energy Studies hosts an annual Carbon Hackathon to foster creativity, connection and idea-sharing between students and energy industry professionals. A hackathon is an event where a group of people engage in intense brainstorming sessions to develop creative solutions to a challenge. Due to the COVID-19 crisis--this year's hackathon will be virtual.

Hackathons start with an open-ended but clear challenge. For this year’s hackathon, the challenge is:

[An impact investor/philanthropist wants to invest $1,000,000 in a venture that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions here in the City of Bellingham.

The investor wants to fund something that has never been done and is looking for proposals from six different sectors.]

Come watch what carbon "hacks" the students come up with--and enjoy a keynote address from John Mauro, City Manager of Port Townsend and former Chief Sustainability Officer for Auckland, NZ.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Microsoft, as well as the following team leaders:

Building Decarbonization:

- Eileen Quigley, Founder and Executive Director, Clean Energy Transition Institute

- Dr. Imran Sheikh, Assistant Professor, Western Washington University

Clean Electricity:

- Bonnie Frye Hemphill, Policy and Partnerships Director, A&R Solar

- Dr. Froylan Sifuentes, Assistant Professor, Western Washington University

Eco-Industrial Districts:

- Annie Sorich, Process Safety Engineer, BP Cherry Point

- Rhys Roth, Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Infrastructure

Transportation Electrification:

- David Mills, Chief Strategy Officer, Puget Sound Energy

- Jon Janz, Senior Associate, Collaborative Efficiency

Solutions to Car Dependency:

- Dr. Sharon Shewmake, State Representative for Washington's 42nd Legislative District and Professor, Western Washington University

- Tim Wilder, Planning Director, Whatcom Transportation Authority

Transforming our Relationship with Consumption:

- Eleanor Bastian, Climate and Clean Energy Policy Manager, Washington Environmental Council

- Rose Lathrop, Program Director, Sustainable Connections