You might be thinking, hacking? Hang on, isn’t that like breaking into other people’s computers? While hacking can sometimes look like that, it means developing solutions to problems using tech in this scenario. ‘Hack’ in this context is short for ‘hackathon’, which combines the words hack and marathon. Basically, it means using your STEAM skills over a day to develop solutions to industry problems!
Hacks are common in the tech industry, and companies will use them to find new employees or develop the skills of their current employees, as well as innovate new solutions to their problems. All hackathons follow the same format, but here’s what you can expect from a traditional Stemettes hackathon…
Teamwork
At hackathons, attendees will usually work in teams with a few other people who have a similar idea to themselves. It can be quite hard to know what to say to new people, so hacks typically include icebreakers at the beginning of the day to get to know your teammates. (But, if you like working independently, this is ok too). At the end of the day, you’ll have the chance to present your work to a panel of judges as a group and win exclusive prizes!
Themes
Each hack will usually have a different theme. This theme sets the tone for the entire day and will usually revolve around a problem. These themes could be something like developing sustainable solutions to fast fashion or how we can solve loneliness with tech. You’ll know the theme when you register for the event, so you’ll have time to explore our zine and brainstorm ideas beforehand to get your inspiration flowing!
Requirements
Our hackathons are for girls, young women and non-binary people aged 5–25, and there’s no need to have any prior knowledge of coding, tech, or any of the tools we use. If you do have experience, that’s great too! We have different tools based on your interests and skill level. Lots of attendees join with no experience, and we always have experts on hand, so don’t worry!
We’re also neurodiverse and disabled-friendly, and our hackathons are fully accessible. It’s important to us that we remove barriers and offer necessary accommodations for you to come along and enjoy.
Tools
We use many different tools at our hackathons, with the option to choose your favourite on the day. Some of our favourite tools include:
- AppShed and AppInventor for building apps
- CodePen for writing code and making webpages
- Tinkercad and SculptGL for making 3D models and mock-ups
Benefits
Our hacks will have exclusive prizes for the winning teams at the end of the day. However, we also have prizes for runners-up, and goody bags and certificates for all attendees. We also have women in STEM role models on hand to help out during the day, so you’ll have a great opportunity to build your network as well.
We’re excited to see you at a hackathon soon – sign up here!
