UMaine students develop winning app at civic hackathon

University of Maine students Jacob Hall, Megan Howes, Stan Small and Brenton Wilson won $500 for the Eco Pal app they created at the America East civic hackathon Nov. 4–5 in Boston.

The UMaine team — challenged to help people and groups use energy and natural resources more efficiently — developed an app that provides a communal space that supports environmental action.

The team earned the award from sponsor Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. In the coming months, the team will seek additional funding to support further development of the app.

More than 120 undergraduate and graduate students participated in the second annual event hosted by UMass Lowell, with support from the university’s DifferenceMaker program and Major League Hacking.

The 24-hour coding competition, created and organized by the America East Academic Consortium (AEAC), challenged students enrolled at member universities to build software and hardware projects that address real-world challenges.

Participants sought to develop technological solutions to issues in the areas of cybersecurity, education, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness.

Students brainstormed and began work on Nov. 4, and on Nov. 5 — after many participants worked through the night — they presented their projects to academic and industry judges.

In addition to the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker program and Major League Hacking, BAE Systems, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Circle Health, and the UMass Lowell Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences participated in the event.

Experts from BAE Systems delivered a technology talk on augmented reality, provided students with access to HoloLenses for use at the event, and shared knowledge and expertise with hackathon teams.

Juliette Kenny, executive director of the AEAC, expects the hackathon to become a mainstay on the AEAC’s calendar.

“Providing students with a forum in which they can collaboratively generate usable solutions to pressing issues, learn about new technologies, overcome technical difficulties, and interact with industry experts represents a tremendous learning opportunity,” she says.

“The breadth and quality of ideas at this past weekend’s event speak to the intellectual ability of America East students and are evidence of the strength of the academic programs at America East member universities.”