EMERGE NASA Data Hackathon at the University of Florida

January 31, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Marston Science Library (Room L136), University of Florida

Presented by the University of Florida GeoDI Lab, SciStarter, and Florida Community Innovation — with support from NASA and UF Libraries.

Register today with this form!

Can’t make it in-person? Register for the virtual option with Land Cover scientist Peder Nelson! Use the same form, linked above.

A Full-Day Hackathon That Turns Data into Action

The EMERGE Hackathon brings students and community members together to transform real environmental data into maps, dashboards, infographics, and actionable insights. Using NASA-supported GLOBE Observer data, participants will explore urgent topics like mosquito-borne disease, land cover change, and environmental health — and learn how community science can drive real-world decision-making.

No coding experience is required. Whether you are new to data or an advanced analyst, there is a track designed for you.

What You’ll Do

Participants will work in guided tracks to:

Explore and visualize real GLOBE Observer data
Learn geospatial analysis and spatial storytelling
Collect and analyze field data using hands-on community science kits
Build dashboards, maps, and infographics for public audiences
Collaborate with peers, librarians, and NASA-affiliated experts

Hackathon Tracks

Participants will choose one of five tracks:

Beginner (No Coding Needed)

Intro to GLOBE Observer
Mapping basics
Data exploration & visual storytelling

Intermediate

Python & Jupyter notebooks
Multi-dataset mapping
Data integration

Advanced

Remote sensing workflows
Satellite data analysis
Machine learning for environmental prediction

Field Track (Community Science Kits)

Mosquito habitat sampling
Species identification
Uploading real data to NASA GLOBE

NEW: App Improvement Track

Front-end & back-end improvements for the GLOBE Observer app
Accessibility, UX, APIs, and documentation
Teams will submit an App Improvement Brief to NASA GLOBE leadership

Sample Challenge Themes

Map mosquito risk on UF campus
Visualize land cover change over time
Build dashboards integrating satellite and ground data
Create community-friendly environmental infographics

Schedule

10:30–12:00 PM — Check-in, breakfast, kit distribution, track-based workshops
12:00–1:00 PM — Lunch
1:00–4:00 PM — Hackathon work + optional field sampling
4:00–4:30 PM — Snacks + mentor check-in
4:30–5:30 PM — Final sprint, awards, closing

Who Should Attend

UF undergraduate and graduate students
Community members from Gainesville and surrounding areas
Anyone interested in environmental data, public health, mapping, or citizen science

This event is designed to be welcoming, interdisciplinary, and accessible.

Hands-On Kits & Field Data

Participants will use SciStarter Mapping Mosquito Habitats kits, available for checkout (email info@floridainnovation.org to request a kit!) and distributed during the event. Data collected before and during the hackathon will directly feed into project tracks and NASA GLOBE datasets.

After the Event

All participants will be invited to complete a short post-event survey to share what they learned and help improve future EMERGE programs.

Want to Bring This to Your Community?

This hackathon builds on the successful EMERGE Hackathon & Data Visualization Contest previously held with libraries and community partners across Florida. Event resources, curriculum, and planning materials are available for groups interested in hosting similar programs.

Event Details at a Glance

Date: January 31, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Location: Marston Science Library, Room L136, University of Florida
Register here!

Contact

Dr. Caroline Nickerson
Executive Director, Florida Community Innovation
Communications Lead, EMERGE
caroline.nickerson@floridainnovation.org
407-562-7793

Requirements

All teams must submit their work on Devpost by the end of the hackathon to be eligible for awards and recognition.

1. Create or Join a Devpost Account

Go to Devpost.com
Sign in or create a free account
Make sure your profile uses the name you want displayed publicly

2. Join the EMERGE Hackathon on Devpost

Visit the official EMERGE NASA Data Hackathon Devpost page (you are here!).
Click “Join Hackathon”
Create a new project or join your team’s existing project

3. Project Requirements (What to Submit)

Your Devpost submission should include all of the following:

Required Fields

Project Title (include Challenge Track in the name)
Short Description (1–2 sentences, plain language encouraged)
Challenge Track
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Field Track (Community Science Kits)
- App Improvement Track
Challenge Theme (e.g., mosquito risk, land cover change, dashboards, app improvements)

Project Content

What you built
- Maps, dashboards, notebooks, infographics, analyses, field data, or app concepts
Data used
- GLOBE Observer data (Mosquito Habitat Mapper, Land Cover, or both)
- Satellite data, field data, or integrated datasets (if applicable)
How it works
- Tools, methods, or workflows used
- No coding required to explain this clearly
Why it matters
- Community impact, public health relevance, environmental insight, or usability

Media (At Least One Required)

Upload at least one of the following:

Screenshot of your map, dashboard, notebook, or infographic
Photos from field data collection (Field Track)
Slides or diagrams explaining your approach
Short demo video (optional but encouraged)

4. Special Instructions by Track

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced Tracks
- Submit visual outputs and explanations. Code is optional.
Field Track
- Include photos of sampling and confirmation that data was uploaded to GLOBE Observer.
App Improvement Track
- Upload an App Improvement Brief describing:
  - The problem
  - Your proposed solution
  - Accessibility, UX, API, or documentation considerations
- No working code required.

5. Team Submissions

One Devpost submission per team
All team members must be added to the project on Devpost
Solo submissions are allowed

6. Submission Deadline

⏰ Submit by 5:30 PM ET on January 31, 2026

You may continue editing your Devpost submission until the deadline (please try to get it in by 4:30 PM ET to make judging easier).

7. Judging Criteria

Projects will be reviewed based on:

Clear use of data
Quality of visualization or analysis
Relevance to community or environmental decision-making
Accessibility and clarity for public audiences
Creativity and thoughtfulness (not technical complexity)

8. After You Submit

Double-check that your project is marked “Submitted” on Devpost
Complete the post-event survey (link shared after the event)
Award announcements will be made during closing remarks

Hackathon Sponsors