The WATER4FUTURE HACKATHON brings together students from around the world

[Press Release] - Published on February 10, 2023 in Press Room

Icireward, the UNESCO International Centre for Water, is organizing the 5th edition of the water4future hackathon on February 16 and 17. The event will bring together 17 countries from Europe, Africa, and North America, representing nearly 400 students from 40 universities and engineering schools. The goal: to work simultaneously on current water challenges in order to propose innovative projects and solutions in just 48 hours.

The The W4F Hackathon 2023 in a nutshell

On February 16 and 17, students from around the world will develop innovative projects addressing challenges related to water. This year, participants will learn 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 goal is to unleash young people’s creativity, raise their awareness, and give them a voice. Given the events that occurred this summer in France, particularly in the south (extreme drought, water restrictions, etc.), awareness of the effects of climate change is growing. On different scales, issues related to freshwater affect everyone on every continent, whether they live in cities or in rural areas.

That is why the 2023 edition of the W4F Student Hackathon will bring together young people from France (Montpellier, Toulouse, Lille, Valenciennes, Corsica, Réunion), Europe (Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland), as well as Africa (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Niger, Cameroon, South Africa), and North America (Canada) will come together to develop technical, regulatory, and/or social solutions. With the support of experts and professionals, their goal is to address a current challenge, get involved, and take action for more sustainable water. At the end of these two days, the solutions will be presented to a jury of international professionals, who will award prizes to the best projects.

The tentative schedule

Thursday, February 16, 2023: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

• Opening ceremony with remarks: University of Montpellier, UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center in Montpellier

Friday, February 17, 2023: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

• Erik Orsenna, a member of the Académie Française, will be in attendance
• Presentation by Philippe Augé: time to be determined
• Start of the semifinals: 4:30 p.m.
• Start of the final: 6:00 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 inland water in France. Located in Montpellier, it ranks among the most important centers of its kind internationally. ICIREWARD brings together and strengthens collaboration among nearly 400 scientists and 150 doctoral students across 17 research laboratories. The Center’s scientific community thus forms a rich multidisciplinary and international network to improve understanding of water-related issues. Research areas combine hydrological, chemical, and biological sciences with social sciences to provide comprehensive expertise in addressing water resource challenges: its availability, quality, and distribution, as well as extreme events (floods, droughts).

ICIREWARD works year-round with elementary and middle school students, high school students, college students, and the general public (Water4Future Program, event on March 24, 2023, titled “From New York to Montpellier: Everyone United for Sustainable Water” – more information to come).