The Erie Hack is a data and engineering competition that unites coders, developers, engineers, and water experts to generate enduring solutions to Lake Erie’s biggest challenges. The competition includes $100,000 in prizes for the most creative and effective hacks. Working from challenge statements derived from ideation sessions with NASA representatives and regional stakeholders, teams are charged with creating innovative digital tools, hardware innovations, and engineering solutions that build “the Blue Economy”: the emergent economic sector dedicated to the sustainable stewardship of bodies of freshwater around the globe. The Erie Hack provides regional high school students, college students, and professionals the opportunity to combine their own expertise with solid mentoring to create technologies with the potential to invigorate Lake Erie’s environment and economy.
Website: eriehack.io
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Prizes
1st place - Grand Prize
Awarded to the finalist team with the overall highest scoring project regardless of its focus area. The Grand Prize winner will be selected for its creativity, marketability, and potential to leverage a scalable shift in one of the Lake Erie’s core challenges. The winners of the Grand Prize automatically qualify for continuing acceleration services after the conclusion of the competition but are disqualified from consideration for any other Erie Hack Prize.
Winner - Youth Innovation Prize
Awarded to the High School Team with the highest score regardless of its focus area. The Winners of the Western Basin Prize may qualify for continuing acceleration services after the conclusion of the competition.
Winner - Social Awareness Prize
Awarded to the finalist team with the highest score working to Connect Communities to the Value of Water or Drive the Creation of Meaningful Data regardless of its geographic origin or path to solution. The Winners of the Infrastructure Prize automatically qualify for continuing incubation services after the conclusion of the competition. The value of the Prize may increase as additional sponsors contribute.
Winner - Infrastructure Prize
Awarded to the finalist team with the highest score working to Cultivate Resilience in Water Infrastructure Systems or Manage Aging Water Infrastructure Systems regardless of its geographic origin or path to solution. The Winners of the Infrastructure Prize automatically qualify for continuing incubation services after the conclusion of the competition. The value of the Prize may increase as additional sponsors contribute
Winner - Stewardship Prize
Awarded to the finalist team with the highest score working to Mitigate Nutrient Loading and Its Environmental Impacts or Halt and Remediate Urban Pollution regardless of its geographic origin or path to solution. The Winners of the Stewardship Prize automatically qualify for continuing incubation services after the conclusion of the competition. The value of the Prize may increase as additional sponsors contribute.