7th edition of the "Water4Future" Hackathon dedicated to water resources to find innovative solutions

[Press release] - Published on February 13, 2025 in Press Room, Science-Society

The Water4Future Student Hackathon 2025, organized by the UNESCO International Center ICIREWARD and the University of Montpellier, will take place on February 20 and 21. It will bring together 450 students from universities and engineering schools, divided into 83 teams, representing 16 countries in Europe, Africa, and North America. The students will have 48 hours to develop an innovative project with a positive social and environmental impact. Academician Erik Orsenna will also be present on the second day to coach the teams on site or remotely.

An important event

Over the course of two days, students from around the world will develop innovative projects addressing issues related to water. As in previous years, participants will discover the theme 48 hours before the event begins. This hybrid innovation competition is organized by the UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center in Montpellier, which is dedicated to continental water. Its aim is to unleash the creativity of future players in the water sector, raise their awareness, give them a voice, and open their minds to the international dimension of water-related issues.

Recent climatic events have highlighted the urgency of water-related challenges. From flooding in the north to persistent droughts in the south, these phenomena, exacerbated by pollution, remind us of the importance of sustainable management of this vital resource. These issues know no borders: on a global scale, they affect all regions.

That is why, at the 2025 edition of the W4F Student Hackathon, young people from France (Montpellier, Alès, Paris, Albi, Réunion Island), Europe (Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Finland), Africa (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, South Africa), and North America (Canada) will come together to brainstorm technical, regulatory, social, and other solutions. With the support of experts and professionals, their goal is to address a current issue, get involved, and take action for more sustainable water. At the end of the two days, the solutions will be presented to a jury of international professionals who will reward the best projects.

The program for these two days:

• Thursday, February 20: opening at 9 a.m. with official speeches starting at 10 a.m., followed by a day of work for students.
• Friday, February 21: work continues, semifinals begin at 2:30 p.m. and the final begins at 5 p.m.

The UNESCO ICIREWARD Center

The UNESCO International Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Water Systems Dynamics (ICIREWARD) is the first and only UNESCO research and training center dedicated to continental water in France. Located in Montpellier, it is one of the most important centers of its kind internationally. ICIREWARD brings together and strengthens the collaboration of nearly 480 scientists and 180 doctoral students in 18 research laboratories. The Center's scientific community thus forms a rich multidisciplinary and international network to improve understanding of water issues. Its research areas combine hydrological, chemical, and biological sciences with social sciences to provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary expertise on water resource challenges, including availability, quality, sharing, and extreme events (floods, droughts). ICIREWARD works throughout the year with schoolchildren, high school students, university students, and the general public.