About the challenge

🌍 Global Challenges, Local Solutions

Communities around the world face challenges every day, from traffic congestion and food waste to public safety, healthcare access, environmental sustainability, and educational inequality. While these issues may seem global, meaningful change often begins at the local level.

In the Girls in STEM Global Hackathon, participants will design innovative STEM-based solutions that address real problems in their communities. Whether you’re building an app, creating an AI tool, designing a prototype, conducting research, or developing an engineering solution, your project should demonstrate how STEM can be used to create positive impact.

We encourage participants to identify a challenge affecting their local community and develop a creative, practical, and scalable solution. The most successful projects will combine innovation, technical skill, and a clear understanding of the problem they are solving.

Think globally. Solve locally.

Get started

🚀 How to Participate

  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.

Eligible projects may include:
• Apps and websites
• Artificial intelligence tools
• Engineering designs
• Robotics concepts
• Scientific innovations
• Research-based solutions
• Environmental technologies
• Accessibility and community impact projects

No prior hackathon experience is required. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to participate.

 

Requirements

What to Build

Participants are challenged to create a STEM-based solution that addresses a real problem affecting their local community.

Your project may focus on areas such as:

• Transportation & Traffic
• Food Waste & Sustainability
• Public Safety
• Community Resources
• Healthcare & Wellness
• Education
• Accessibility & Inclusion
• Environmental Challenges
• Emergency Response
• Technology for Social Good

Projects can include:

• Mobile Apps
• Websites
• AI & Machine Learning Solutions
• Engineering Designs
• Hardware Prototypes
• Robotics Concepts
• Scientific Research Projects
• Data Analysis Tools
• Community Impact Technologies

There are no limits to how you solve the problem—just make sure your project clearly addresses a real-world challenge and demonstrates how STEM can create positive impact.

What to Submit

Each team must submit the following through Devpost:

âś… Project Title

âś… Project Description
Explain the problem you are solving, your solution, and who it helps.

✅ Demo Video (2–5 minutes)
Show your project in action and explain how it works.

âś… Screenshots, Designs, or Photos
Include visuals that help judges understand your project.

âś… Technology & Tools Used
List any programming languages, software, hardware, AI tools, or technologies used.

âś… Impact Statement
Describe how your solution could improve your local community.

âś… Team Information
Include the names of all team members.

Optional:
• GitHub Repository
• Research Documentation
• Presentation Slides
• Prototype Files

Submissions must be original work created during the hackathon period.

 

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

8 non-cash prizes
1st Place Overall — Global Impact Champion
1 winner

Awarded to the project that best combines innovation, technical excellence, STEM application, and real-world impact.
Prize
:
• Winner Certificate

• Featured Winner Spotlight on Girls in STEM platforms

• Exclusive Winner Badge
• Recognition during the Awards Ceremony

2nd Place Overall — Innovation Excellence Award
1 winner

Awarded to a project that demonstrates outstanding creativity, strong technical execution, and a meaningful solution to a community challenge.
Prize:

• Runner-Up Certificate

• Featured Project Spotlight

• Digital Award Badge

3rd Place Overall — Rising Innovator Award
1 winner

Awarded to a project that showcases exceptional potential, creativity, and STEM-driven problem-solving.
Prize:

• Certificate of Achievement

• Featured Project Recognition

• Digital Award Badge

Best Artificial Intelligence
5 winners

Awarded to the project demonstrating the most innovative and effective use of artificial intelligence.

-certificate
-mention of website

Best Engineering & Innovation Project
1 winner

Awarded to the project with the strongest engineering design, prototype, or technical innovation.

-certificate
-mention on website

Best Technology Project
1 winner

Awarded to the project that excels in software development, application design, or technical implementation.

-certificate
-mention on website

Best Hardware Project
1 winner

Awarded to the project featuring the most impressive hardware, robotics, embedded systems, or physical prototype.

-certificate
-mention on website

Best Social Impact Project
1 winner

Awarded to the project with the greatest potential to create positive change within a community.

-certificate
-mention on website

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Sofia Bouazizi

Sofia Bouazizi
Girls In STEM MENA&Central Asia Founder

Maria Yesenov

Maria Yesenov

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?
  • 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?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Invite others to compete

Hackathon sponsors

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