Pilot event seeks to find six delegates to compete at a major sustainability event in the Netherlands
By City Press Office (City Press Office), Published (Updated )
City, University of London is set to host its first ever Sustainable City Hackathon, as part of an initiative to choose six delegates for the SoapBox SDG Challenge held in the Netherlands.
Students, staff and Islington residents alike will work in teams to provide solutions to real world challenges facing the local economy, such as food waste. These will simulate the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), which finalists will work on as part of the SDG challenge.
Additionally, City already uses these goals as guidelines for improving sustainability within the University, including using 100 per cent sustainable energy sources, as well as committing to reaching net zero emissions by 2040, having already reduced emissions by 53 per cent since 2005/6.
The Hackathon is a pilot for testing the feasibility of similar events, with scope to collaborate with other universities both in London and beyond.
The event will be a collaboration between CityVentures, Better Space and City's Sustainability team. It will be held at Better Space in Islington, a co-working space which is a joint endeavour between City and Islington Council.
Better Space is also a community and incubator for social enterprise, aimed at supporting the local and global economy by providing affordable memberships and central facilities for startups, as well as offering mentorship opportunities in the local area.
Participants must be available for the following dates: a welcome and introduction session on Thursday 16 March, 5.30–9pm at Better Space, followed by the Hackathon itself on Saturday, 25 March, 9am–5pm, also at Better Space. The pitch and prize evening will be held on Wednesday 30 March, 5.30–9 pm on campus at Northampton Square.
Registration ends this Friday, 10 March.
Click for more information on the Sustainable City Hackathon.
Words: Ruth Almodal
