Zoohackathon 2018: how to help find tech solutions for curbing wildlife crime
Zoohackathon 2018 is almost here! Zoohackathon, a tech challenge to find technology-driven solutions for fighting wildlife crime, will once again be organised by the U.S. Embassy, TRAFFIC and WWF-India, in Mumbai on the 15–16th September 2018 and in New Delhi on the 22nd–23rd September, 2018. The inaugural session will be organised for the New Delhi Zoohackathon on the 21st September, 4–5 pm.
What: | Mumbai Zoohackathon 2018 | New Delhi Zoohackathon 2018 |
Where: | Jijamata Udyaan; | WWF-India Secretariat, |
When: | 15-16 September 2018 | 22-23 September 2018 |
Register at: |
Zoohackathon, a tech challenge to find technology driven solutions for fighting wildlife crime, will once again be organised by the U.S. Embassy, TRAFFIC and WWF-India, in Mumbai on 15-16 September 2018 and in New Delhi on September 22-23, 2018. The inaugural session will be organised for the New Delhi Zoohackathon on September 21, 4-5 pm.
Zoohackathon brings together coders, wildlife enthusiasts, and designers in different cities around the world to spend a weekend developing technology-focused solutions to address illegal wildlife trade.
The first Zoohackathon in 2016 took place in London, Sydney, Washington DC, San Diego, and Seattle. India’s first Zoohackathon was held at the WWF-India Secretariat in New Delhi on the 7th–8th October 2017, coinciding with the Wildlife Week celebrations.
Illicit wildlife trade is an evolving global crime that is becoming increasingly sophisticated. The growing involvement of organised criminal syndicates is putting increased pressures on many wildlife species, as well as posing a threat to national and global security, governance, and anti-corruption efforts.
Zoohackathon was conceptualised as a response to these threats, organised to challenge participants to develop innovative solutions that can contribute to the fight against wildlife trafficking.
The U.S. Department of State will provide problem statements to all 2018 host sites. Participants will then have all weekend to create a technology-based solution, including through the use of websites, mobile apps, and new software. At the end of the hackathon participants will present their work to an expert panel of judges who will designate a local winner for the global prize.
The problem statements will be announced to the participants at the inaugural session organised a day before the Zoohackathon in New Delhi and online for the Mumbai event.
The global winner will be announced on World Cheetah Day, 4th December, 2018. The participants will also get a chance to attend talks by wildlife and communication experts, in addition to some additional activities during the course of the Zoohackathon.
Notes:
1. Participants must bring their own laptops and are welcome to use their personal internet dongle, as well.
2. We welcome participation from all. Teams with a relative gender balance will be given preference.
3. Each team can include between 3-6 members
About US Department of State
The U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity.
WWF
WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 30 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit www.panda.org/news for the latest news and media resources and follow us on Twitter @WWF_media.
