The world's largest hackathon

By: Carolina Rojas – Advisory Office of Communications

The News Agency of the University of Cundinamarca interviewed the Knowledge and Learning Manager of the Systems and Computing Engineering program at the Ubaté branch, who was invited as an evaluator at NASA International Space, since 2012 the world's largest Hackathon in which the Mayor's Office of the Municipality of Chía, the University of La Sabana, the Sergio Arboleda University, the Colombian School of Engineering Julio Garavito, the Astrobiology Institute of Colombia, the Colombian Astronomy Association, the Government of Cundinamarca, among others, participated.

UCundinamarca News Agency (ANUC): What event did you attend?

Gonzalo Benavides (GB): I was at the NASA SPACE APPS CHALLENGE in the municipality of Chía, Cundinamarca.

ANUC: Why were you invited?

GBI received an invitation via my institutional email to be an evaluator of the different projects carried out during the hackathon. They asked for my resume and determined that I met the required academic and research profile.

ANUC: What is the NASA International Space Apps Challenge?

GBIt's an international hackathon held simultaneously in cities around the world, with participants of all ages and skill levels creating innovative and creative solutions to global challenges using NASA data. Since 2012, it has been the world's largest hackathon.

ANUC: What role did you play in the hackathon?

GBI was an evaluator. It was an honor and a responsibility to be invited; I represented the University of Cundinamarca in my capacity as Knowledge and Learning Manager and Researcher.

My role as an evaluator involved listening to the presentations of the projects submitted by the teams and providing feedback using an evaluation rubric that considered criteria such as innovation, feasibility, impact, and use of technology. Together with the evaluation team, we provided feedback and suggestions for improvement to the different teams and selected the winning projects that will represent Colombia internationally.

ANUC: Do you consider that having participated in this event is related to the Medit?

GBIn our role as Knowledge Managers and Researchers, we have the mission-driven responsibility to guide and support the professional development of Acting and Transforming Subjects, through the development of the four structural axes of MEDIT: ethical professionals who develop learning processes that allow them to acquire knowledge in enabling disruptive sciences and technologies, through which they can transform society in its translocal and transmodern dimensions that are projected in their highly competitive, world-class professional work.

More news from the Ubaté branch at the News Agency