M-CODELAB
19-20 November 2022
Smart technologies for cleaning and preserving the marine ecosystem
Partners
Hackathon organized jointly with Technical University of Varna
Join the hackathon! Let your imagination run wild and bring forth your technological and innovative ideas!
19-20 November 2022
Start: 9:00 | 19.11.2022
End: 17:30 | 20.11.2022
Technical University of Varna
Conference hall, NUK
Free
WHAT TO EXPECT?
The hackathon is a technological event for developing software projects, characterized by a competitive and team-oriented nature, bringing together programmers (and not only) who work on creating a prototype of a product or a solution to a specific problem.
The event is free for students from all universities in the country, as well as 11th and 12th grade students.
FACILITIES OFFERED DURING THE HACKATHON
Challenges
According to research by the World Health Organization, over 90% of Bulgarians nationwide directly feel the effects of air pollution. The advancement of technology provides ample opportunities to offer solutions that can help transform cities into more environmentally friendly places. Building an "eco-city" is associated with access to information about the latest trends in reducing carbon emissions, smart solutions in the use of natural resources, climate preservation, expanding green spaces, and more. Increasing expertise in the field, as well as raising awareness and knowledge throughout society on the topic, would be a step towards effective actions to achieve a cleaner and healthier living environment all around us. Uniting in a common goal involving more people leads to greater and more visible results, and this is achievable by providing more information about the possibilities.
Eco City
The appropriate utilization of natural resources to create sustainable alternatives for energy production is a step in our pursuit of a better and higher quality of life. Good examples in this direction include the use of biomass in the form of forest and agricultural waste and wood for direct burning, solar energy, geothermal energy, and aerothermal energy. Although still in an early stage, possibilities for harnessing the energy from waves in seas, lakes, and reservoirs are also being explored. The main focus is on improving the quality and accessibility of data, cooperation in data exchange, assessing and monitoring biodiversity, and finding suitable opportunities for their application. There is increasing talk at the national level about the so-called "one-stop-shop" – a single point that offers multiple thematically related services, providing access to comprehensive information on programs and activities in the field of improving energy efficiency in Bulgaria.
Natural resources and energy efficiency
The human-generated waste is becoming an increasing threat to the ecosystem of the Black Sea. The majority of solid waste in the marine environment consists of materials that take decades to degrade. According to studies, 80% of this waste originates from land-based sources, with only 20% being the result of various economic activities at sea. Marine waste is not clearly visible to our society, which largely remains unaware of its existence and its detrimental impact on the marine ecosystem. Approaches to creating good practices for marine ecosystem conservation may include preventing waste production, improving household waste collection systems and waste management in coastal areas, establishing a comprehensive, synchronized monitoring system to identify waste accumulation zones, conducting awareness campaigns for public education, and engaging citizens in each of the above topics.
Black Sea Ecosystem
Climate and Climate Change Climate change is the greatest threat to nature and humanity in the 21st century. According to data from temperature measurements, it can be observed that the 15 warmest years on Earth have occurred in the last 20 years. In Bulgaria, we are witnessing increasingly frequent and longer periods of drought, followed by hurricane storms, severe floods with destruction and casualties, and other natural disasters. Taking adequate actions to improve environmental conditions by preventing risks of floods, landslides, and erosion, especially characteristic of coastal areas, is extremely important. Climate change can lead to new, even more extreme climatic events, jeopardizing the material wealth and lives of many people. Coordination and management of risk prevention will contribute to ensuring a sustainable and secure environment for people's lives and health, as well as for the development of tourism and the economy.
Climate and Climate Change
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
- Applicability
- Innovation
- Functionality
- Design
- Potential for future development
For each of the described categories, a score ranging from 4 to 20 points is assigned.
AWARDS
The hackathon is a competition, and as such, it concludes with the selection of the best teams by the jury.
The first three teams will be awarded certificates and prizes from a total cash prize pool of 3000 BGN:
First Place – Cash prize of 1500 BGN for the entire team.
Second and Third Place – Material prizes for each participant in the team.
Jury
With an extensive experience in the field of capital markets, corporate finance, and portfolio management, alexander is a co-founder of the Aleksander Foundation – a foundation that promotes and supports the development of Bulgarian higher education through its portfolio of programs, scholarships, and public events.
Alexander Petrov
Senior Partner,
McKinsey & Company
He earns a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For 13 years, he has been a member of the Google team in Switzerland.
Darin Petkov
Software Engineering Manager,
He has extensive experience in companies from around the world (USA, Europe, Japan) in multichannel and product marketing, SaaS, and web architecture. Currently, he is responsible for digital transformation and the development of strategies and operational programs at the technology giant Adobe.
Petar Karafezov
Senior Director – Digital Growth and Country GTM,
Adobe
He is a professor of artificial intelligence in the Department of Computer Science and Technologies and the founder of a research laboratory on artificial intelligence at the Technical University of Varna. He is a co-author of over 200 scientific publications in the field of machine learning methods and their applications in biometrics, bioacoustics, and human-machine interaction, with over 2800 citations in total (Google Scholar h-index=28). He has participated in 30 RTD projects (FP5, FP6, FP7, LIFE+, LLL, EIT, Horizon 2020, etc.).
Prof. Dr. Eng. Todor Ganchev
Vice-Rector “Scientific Activity”, TU – Varna
With rich experience in business development and innovation throughout her professional journey, she has held various management positions in the utilities and telecom industries, as well as in consulting and IT business. She is the initiator of Bulgaria's first "Innovation Center" at Mobiltel, where in collaboration with various partner organizations, she paves the way for best practices in commercializing technological innovations into products and viable business models.
Tsvety Kyoseva
CEO, Methodia
Lecturer at TU-Varna, member of the "Computer Sciences and Technologies" department. Vice-Dean of FITA, responsible for research and personnel policy. Scientific leader of the student club "Creative code;" Scientific and research interests are in the field of Programming (language C++, C#), Algorithms in Machine Learning, Genetic Algorithms, Software Project Management.
Milena Karova, Assoc., Ph.D., Eng
Deputy dean of FITA, TU – Varna
Institute of Oceanology at the BAS. His research interests are in operational oceanography, oceanographic data and information management, and research automation. He has over 200 scientific publications with more than 350 citations. He managed 25 national and international projects (NATO SfP, FP6, FP7, H2020, Copernicus, CBC, EEA Projects etc.). He was the supervisor of 14 graduate students and 5 doctoral students. He participated in the governing bodies of the Institute of Oceanology, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the Union of Scientists and the Scientific and Technical Unions.
Prof. Atanas Palazov, Ph.D
Institute of Oceanology – BAS, Varna
Programme
09:00 – 10:00 Opening
10:00 – 10:30 Team coordination
10:30 – 13:00 Working on the projects
13:00 – 14:00 Break
14:00 – 18:00 Working on the projects
09:00 – 10:30 Working on the projects
10:30 – 11:30 Preparation of projects’ presentations
11:30 – 13:30 Presentation of the projects
13:30 – 14:30 Break
14:30 – 16:00 Evaluation of the projects
16:00 – 17:00 Awarding
17:00 – 17:30 Closing
17:30 – 18:30 Cocktail
Програма
09:00 – 10:00 Откриване
10:00 – 10:30 Координация на екипите
10:30 – 13:00 Работа по проектите
13:00 – 14:00 Почивка
14:00 – 18:00 Работа по проектите
09:00 – 10:30 Работа по проектите
10:30 – 11:30 Подготовка на презентациите
11:30 – 13:30 Представяне на проектите
13:30 – 14:30 Почивка
14:30 – 16:00 Оценяване
16:00 – 17:00 Награждаване
17:00 – 17:30 Закриване
17:30 – 18:30 Коктейл
Програма
09:00 – 10:00 Откриване
10:00 – 10:30 Координация на екипите
10:30 – 13:00 Работа по проектите
13:00 – 14:00 Почивка
14:00 – 18:00 Работа по проектите
09:00 – 10:30 Работа по проектите
10:30 – 11:30 Подготовка на презентациите
11:30 – 13:30 Представяне на проектите
13:30 – 14:30 Почивка
14:30 – 16:00 Оценяване
16:00 – 17:00 Награждаване
17:00 – 17:30 Закриване
17:30 – 18:30 Коктейл
Mentors
Master of Information Technology and Computer Science. With more than 10 years of experience in developing a number of software solutions, Vasi never stops sharing her knowledge and challenging the programmers in her team. This love for science and teaching also manifests itself as an assistant professor at FMI, SU and is the author of technical literature for students.
Vassilena Kovacheva
Dev Team Manager, Methodia
Obtained a PhD in the field of Smart Grid communication networks and systems. He is interested in and conducts research related to network security, Internet services and p2p networks. He has experience as an instructor of certification programs in the ICT sector. Author of 25 scientific publications.
Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Eng. Martin Ivanov
Department of “Communication Techniques and Technologies”, TU-Varna
Miro is a mentor, a programmer, and when he is not, he takes on the role of Sherlock in unraveling mysteries that trouble other programmers. Explores the Internet of Things and is excited about the ways it can change the way we live. He believes that the familiar ends where the interesting begins.
Miroslav Kovachev
Principal Engineer, Methodia
Д-р Динев е преподавател в катедра „Софтуерни и интернет технологии” в ТУ-Варна. Специалист по „Бази от данни” и „Web програмиране”. Научните му интереси са в областта на „Internet of things” и „Big Data”.
Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Eng. Diyan Dinev
Department of “Software and Internet Technologies”, TU-Varna
Lecturer at TU - Varna, member of the "Software and Internet Technologies" department. Head of competitive programming teams. Member of the Union of Automation and Informatics "John Atanasov" and the Union of Mathematicians in Bulgaria. Academic and research interests are in Programming (C++ and Python), Computer Algorithms, Machine Learning, Mathematical Programming and Risk Management.
Neli Kalcheva, Ph.D., Eng
Department of “Software and Internet Technologies”, TU-Varna
Coming soon