Girls In STEM Global Hackathon

Overview

The Girls In STEM Global Hackathon empowers the next generation of STEM leaders by inviting participants to design innovative STEM-based solutions that address real problems in their local communities. The challenge emphasizes that while issues like traffic congestion, food waste, public safety, healthcare access, environmental sustainability, and educational inequality are global, effective change often starts at the local level. Participants are encouraged to identify a specific community challenge and develop a creative, practical, and scalable solution using STEM principles. This hackathon provides a platform for participants to build various projects, including apps, AI tools, prototypes, research, and engineering solutions. The core idea is to demonstrate how STEM can be effectively used to create positive impact. Successful projects will not only showcase innovation and technical skill but also a clear understanding of the problem they aim to solve. No prior hackathon experience is required, making it beginner-friendly and welcoming to all eligible students. The event fosters a "think globally, solve locally" mindset, promoting innovative problem-solving for tangible community benefits.

What to build

Participants are challenged to create a STEM-based solution that addresses a real problem affecting their local community. Projects may focus on areas such as Transportation & Traffic, Food Waste & Sustainability, Public Safety, Community Resources, Healthcare & Wellness, Education, Accessibility & Inclusion, Environmental Challenges, Emergency Response, or Technology for Social Good. The solution can take many forms, including Mobile Apps, Websites, AI & Machine Learning Solutions, Engineering Designs, Hardware Prototypes, Robotics Concepts, Scientific Research Projects, Data Analysis Tools, or Community Impact Technologies. The project should clearly address a real-world challenge and demonstrate how STEM can create a positive impact.

Prizes

Key dates

• Submissions BeginJune 23, 2026 at 11:30 AM EDT
• Submission DeadlineAugust 05, 2026 at 11:45 PM EDT
• Judging BeginsAugust 05, 2026 at 11:45 PM EDT
• Judging EndsAugust 09, 2026 at 11:45 PM EDT
• Winners AnnouncedAugust 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM EDT

Eligibility

Participants must be between the ages of 13 and 25 only. Only students are eligible to participate; companies and professional organizations are excluded. Participation is open to individuals from all countries/territories, excluding standard exceptions. Submissions must be original work created during the hackathon period.

How to enter

1. Register for the hackathon on Devpost.
2. Form a team of 1–4 participants, or compete individually.
3. Identify a challenge affecting your local community.
4. Brainstorm, research, and develop a STEM-based solution.
5. Build your project during the hackathon period.
6. Create a Devpost submission including: Project title, Problem statement, Solution overview, Demo video, Screenshots, designs, or prototype images.
7. Submit your project before the deadline.

Submission requirements

• Project Title
• Project Description (explain the problem, solution, and who it helps)
• Demo Video (2–5 minutes, showing project in action and how it works)
• Screenshots, Designs, or Photos (visuals to help judges understand the project)
• Technology & Tools Used (list programming languages, software, hardware, AI tools, or technologies)
• Impact Statement (describe how the solution could improve your local community)
• Team Information (names of all team members)
• Optional: GitHub Repository
• Optional: Research Documentation
• Optional: Presentation Slides
• Optional: Prototype Files
• Submissions must be original work created during the hackathon period.

Judging criteria

• Innovation & Creativity: How original, creative, and unique is the solution? Does it present a fresh approach to solving the problem?
• Impact & Relevance: How effectively does the project address a real local challenge? How meaningful could the impact be on the community?
• Technical Execution: How well was the project built, researched, designed, or prototyped? Does the solution demonstrate strong STEM knowledge and application?
• Feasibility & Scalability: Is the AI solution practical and deployable in real-world settings? Can it scale efficiently with larger datasets, users, or broader applications? (Note: This criterion specifically mentions AI but implies general project scalability)
• Presentation & Communication: How clearly and effectively does the team communicate their AI solution, including the problem, methodology, technical approach, and results, through their submission and demo? (Note: This criterion specifically mentions AI but implies general project communication)

Sponsors & partners

Resources

• Full Rules
• SparkCloud Deployment Platform
• Discussion Forum
• Hackathon Manager Email