WASHplus resource partner, SecondMuse, inspires innovation. Their process is a unique approach that focuses on the development of innovation through collaborative methods rather than the simple brainstorms of one or two brilliant creatives. SecondMuse alongside World Bank Water present:
The global WaterHackathon event will take place October 21st thru 23rd, 2011. The WaterHackathon is a two-day marathon hacking event with multiple global locations bringing together software developers from all over to hack on real-world water problems.
New ideas, better data and innovative instruments are needed to respond to this global water crisis. In search of just that, The World Bank and its partners aims to seed a new community that brings together software engineers and water experts to (1) identify critical global challenges and project specific problems in order to (2) develop software to respond to them. Towards this, end the WaterHackathon was conceived as venue for co-creation.
Prior to the actual event, the team works together with water experts from around the world to define and refine water problems, turning them from abstract challenges into concrete problem definitions that could actually be ‘hacked’ in one crazy weekend.They’re also looking for partners and open to suggestions for event locations! Specific sites will be announced in early September!
A hackathon event is an intensive marathon of brainstorming and programming, drawing together the talent and initiative of software developers. These events are typically between several days and a week in length and some are commercially oriented. The barrier to entry in the creation of mobile and web applications is very low, enabling innovation and the creation of quite full solutions under the time constrains of a hackathon. Recognizing the potential for co‐creation of knowledge, an increasing number of hackathon events aim to pair technology expertise with real world development problems.
Until then, SecondMuse and its partners invite you to get involved. They need water experts from around the world to define, refine and submit problem definitions on the wide-range of water issues facing developing countries today, including access to clean water and sanitation, flood management and agricultural water management and environmental pollution.
Check out the problem definition ideas and learn how to submit a water problem.
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Thanks WASHplus for publicizing WaterHackathon and encouraging your readers to submit problems that may have technical solutions and can be worked on by the community at WaterHackathon in October. We will share with you some of the innovative ideas that result from the hackathon.
This is going to be an awesome event. I will be following closely and look forward to what actions and solutions the Hackathon comes up with.