Largest Annual Global Hackathon: NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024

The 11th edition of the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024, organized by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) with support from the BASIS Students’ Forum, concluded successfully with an award giving ceremony. The 36-hour hackathon began on October 4, 2024.

The award giving ceremony took place on Saturday at the auditorium of the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB). Special guest Helen LaFave, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, and Nadia Anwar, founding member and chairperson of AIUB’s Board of Trustees, were present as the distinguished guest. Also in attendance were BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed, Senior Vice President M Rashidul Hasan, Vice President (Admin) Syed Mohammad Kamal, Vice President (Finance) Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan, BASIS directors Mir Shahrukh Islam and Biplob Ghosh Rahul, NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 Convener Abhijit Bhowmik, and NASA Space Apps Challenge Bangladesh Advisor Mohammad Mohammad Mahdee Uz Zaman. James Gardiner, Acting Chief of the Economic Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, and Mohammed Mamdudur Rashid, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of United Commercial Bank (UCB), were also present.

In her address, Nadia Anwar, chairperson of AIUB’s Board of Trustees, said, “This event is significant not only for the youth of our country but also for advancing the future of science and technology. Science and technology have always been at the forefront of human progress, reshaping industries and societies. This will inspire our youth to become the scientists and technologists of tomorrow. AIUB is proud to be a partner in such events, and we look forward to supporting future initiatives.”

Helen LaFave, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, congratulated the participants, stating, “I offer my heartfelt congratulations for your incredible success in the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024. This platform not only fosters innovation but also ignites a passion for science and technology in our youth. It’s remarkable that no other country has been a global champion three consecutive times. You should take pride in yourselves, and I hope to see another victory from you next year for the fifth time.”

In his remarks, BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed led the participants in a pledge inspired by Mughda’s dream and Tanvin’s drone challenge. He said, “When I spoke to Snigdh, Mughda’s brother, I saw both pain and dreams in his eyes. I believe that you, Generation Z, will realize those dreams. Bangladesh is not a country that backs down. We regularly face challenges and move forward. Our students have become local and global champions through their participation in the NASA Space Apps Challenge, with some even securing jobs at NASA.”

He added, “BASIS has been organizing this competition for the 11th consecutive year, and this continuity will keep our youth motivated and lead us to a fifth global victory.”

It is worth noting that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) implements this initiative to bring together talented individuals from 185 countries, including technologists, scientists, designers, artists, educators, and entrepreneurs, to develop innovative solutions to global challenges. In line with this, BASIS organized the event in nine cities across Bangladesh: Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Comilla. NASA Space Apps Challenge aims to engage 1 million students on social media and involve 200,000 students directly in the competition.

In 2018, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology’s ‘Team Olik’ became the global champion in the ‘Best Use of Data’ category with their lunar VR project, offering a virtual experience of traveling to the moon. In 2021, ‘Team Mohakash’ from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) and Bangladesh Army University of Engineering & Technology (BAUET) became world champions in the ‘Best Mission Concept’ category, and in 2022, ‘Team Diamonds’ won in the ‘Most Inspirational’ category. Most recently, ‘Team Voyagers’ from Bangladesh won the Best Storytelling category in NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2023.
The winners of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 are:

Barisal: Champion: Team Phoenix, 1st Runner Up: Aqua-Agropredicta, 2nd Runner Up: Team YottaByte, Chottogram: Champion: Urban Utopians (Virtual), 1st Runner Up: Team Blusentry, 2nd Runner Up: Team Recursion, Comilla: Champion: T Minus Zero (Virtual), 1st Runner Up: Helio Alchemist (Virtual), 2nd Runner Up: Exoverse (Virtual), Dhaka: Champion: Quantum Voyagers, 1st Runner Up: Team Titan, 2nd Runner Up: Team Hydro (Virtual), Khulna: Champion: Team Atlas, 1st Runner Up: Team NovaFlare, 2nd Runner Up: Global Protector, Mymensingh: Champion: EcoRangers (Virtual), 1st Runner Up: MonsoonFive, 2nd Runner Up: Lunar_Harvesters (Virtual), Rangpur: Champion: Team Innovators BD (Virtual), 1st Runner Up: Team Novochari, 2nd Runner Up: Agri Vision, Rajshahi: Champion: Envo_Fighters (Virtual), 1st Runner Up: CodeBlack (Virtual), 2nd Runner Up: The OrbVengers (Virtual), Sylhet: Champion: Team ORCA (Virtual), 1st Runner Up: Team NOVO, 2nd Runner Up: SUST Brainstormers.