UMaine to host 24-hour America East hackathon beginning March 2

Innovative, tech-savvy, entrepreneurial students will tackle challenges facing America’s farmers at the America East hackathon (Hack AE) March 2–3 at the University of Maine.

Jeffrey Hecker, UMaine’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said the university is honored to host the third annual 24-hour civic hackathon.

“Hack AE 2019 will provide a unique opportunity to challenge undergraduate students to harness technology, innovation and collaboration to address the integration of the latest in technology with the agricultural industry,” Hecker says.

“University of Maine’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) creates and manages the Hacker Space for students at UMaine and looks forward to welcoming hackers from across our America East membership to campus.”

Last year, more than 120 students from America East schools collaborated in round-the-clock efforts to apply technology to address issues of local, regional, national or global significance. Several award-winning projects were created.

Marsha Florio, executive director of the America East Academic Consortium (AEAC), said the group is eager to partner with UMaine and CITL.

UMaine’s Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), Wireless Sensor Networks Lab (WiSe-Net Lab), and New Media/School of Computer and Information Sciences will contribute to the event.

Enrolled undergraduates interested in Hack AE are encouraged to go online. Hack AE organizers are recruiting mentors, judges and sponsors; those interested are invited to email aeac@americaeast.com.

In addition to UMaine, America East schools include the University at Albany, State University of New York; Binghamton University; University of Hartford; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of Massachusetts Lowell; University of New Hampshire; Stony Brook University; and University of Vermont.