What Happens Next: Hacking the Hackathon for Long-Term Impact

Speakers: Nina Peluso (MIT PolHack 2020, chair), Freddy Nguyen (MIT COVID-19 Hackathon, MIT Hacking Racism, organizer), Ragini Sreenath (MIT PolHack 2020, MIT EnergyHack, organizer)

Whether related to the environment, Internet + cybersecurity, health, future of education + work, housing + planning, or another area, hackathons have become a popular way to engage with students, researchers, and practitioners alike on complex issues. Usually a weekend event, they involve taking real-life data and/or situations and brainstorming solutions.

But how impactful (and in what way) are these events after the weekend? Do (and if not, can) they affect future research, policy initiatives, and/or the discourse surrounding these problems? How do they help us answer the question on policy (including hackathons and other policy-related initiatives) “for whom”? Please join us for a facilitated discussion to help hack the hackathon!

There will be a small reception after the event with light food and refreshments for our in-person attendees.

For in-person attendees, please fill out the following form for contact tracing: https://forms.gle/k3bjJfF4s5D1knmW9

For virtual attendees, the Zoom link will also be provided upon successful registration here:
https://mit.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApdu2rrDojEtPtOHxD94ADheCdFvVINkr-