Hackaton Water 4 future

On February 16 and 17, 2023, the UM's UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center will be bringing together nearly 400 students from all over the world (17 European, African and North American countries, 40 universities and engineering schools) for the ^5th edition of the W4F Hackathon. They will be working simultaneously on current water issues to find innovative solutions with a positive social and environmental impact. This year, participants will discover the theme of the 2023 edition 48 hours before the start of the W4F Student Hackathon.

This innovation competition is organized by the UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center in Montpellier - a UNESCO center dedicated to water. Its aim is to unleash the creativity of young people, raise their awareness and give them a voice. With the events experienced this summer in France, and particularly in the south, (extreme drought, water restrictions, etc.), awareness of the effects of climate change is growing. On different scales, freshwater issues affect everyone on every continent, whether you live in the city or the countryside. That's why, for the 2023 edition of the W4F Student Hackathon, young people from France (Montpellier, Toulouse, Lille, Valenciennes, Corsica, Reunion Island), Europe (Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Finland), Africa (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Niger, Cameroon, South Africa) and North America (Canada) will be brainstorming on technical, regulatory and/or social solutions.

Accompanied by experts and professionals, their aim is to respond to a topical issue, to make a commitment and take action for more sustainable water. At the end of the two-day event, the solutions will be presented to a jury of international professionals, who will award prizes to the best projects.

Program

Thursday, February 16, 2023, 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.: Opening

Friday, February 17, 2023 8am - 8pm
Presence of Erik Orsenna, member of the Académie française
Speech by Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier
Start of semi-finals: 4:30pm
Start of finals: 6pm