International Space Apps Challange: IT FOR EVERYONE!

07 Apr 2014 Lagos and Calabar will be joining 95 other cities around the world for the first time, for this year’s edition of the International Space Apps Challenge; a 2-day global technology Hackathonthat will see everyday people, designers, developers, entrepreneurs and students carry out world-wide collaboration around NASA’s Open data. The teams will solve any one of the 50 space and earth challenges designed by NASA for the event in the categories Earth Watch, Technology in Space, Human Spaceflight, Robotics and Asteroids.

The challenge is designed to inspire Africa’s future generations to build home grown solutions to save and empower lives in the future and will also be happening in 7 other African citiesincluding Cotonou, Nairobi, Saint Louis, Lome and Dakar.
One of the most anticipated parts of the event will be the Space For Youth program, which is aimed to inspire and educate youth. 2 teams of 4 students each, will also take on Robotics Challenges with LEGO Education.

Other children will be taught about Space Technology and tasked to make that knowledge relatable to the grassroots either through a simple app or a storybook.
Alpha 5 West Africa – a Capacity-building initiative of Petrodata, will be the official NASA host for the event and is working with several local and international agencies and organizations. The Nigerian Ministry of Communication and Technology will officiate and Judge at the event, Nigeria’s space Agency NASRDA will have key technical engineers to provide leadership and teach youth participants. iDEA Incubators Centres in Lagos and Calabar will function as theofficial venue for the events. Microsoft, Alpha technologies and Lego Robotics, Samsung and many others will also function as technology partners for the event.