The Maldives Ocean Hackathon 2023 has commenced.
Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna inaugurated the largest ocean hackathon in the Maldives at a ceremony held in Crossroads Maldives. A total of 10 teams have been chosen to participate in the event, presenting 10 projects focused on assessing the impacts of climate change on the Maldivian islands and offering current data to guide policymakers.
Among the 10 projects, nine were submitted by Maldivian teams and one was contributed by the Asia Pacific University of Malaysia. The projects from the Maldives included a data-access platform, initiatives for marine life protection, reporting on shore protection issues, a disaster communication platform for the public, real-time erosion display via satellites and drones, shore data analysis, and solutions for mitigating marine pollution.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the event, Minister Shauna highlighted the challenges posed by climate change, affecting clean water access, fuel combustion, and plastic use. She expressed that the challenges remain unresolved and stressed the need for up-to-date data to mitigate damage to the fragile environment of the Maldives. She also pointed out the absence of long-term data and advocated for collecting the latest information as a viable solution.
Additionally, Minister Shauna expressed the importance of collecting data from technology partners in the Maldives to address climate change issues. She also underscored the significance of data collected by those monitoring coral reefs, coastal areas, and beaches.
The Maldives Ocean Hackathon 2023 serves as a platform for collaboration between technology experts and environmentalists to conduct research and devise effective solutions to climate change and digital technology-related challenges. The event will span three days until October 17 and aims for broad participation. The event also features various prizes for the winning team from different event partners, including a cash prize of USD10,000.