At Boston University, hackathons aren’t just about crafting flawless code anymore — they’re about creativity, connection, and impact. The DS+X Hackathon, a collaboration between BU Spark! and the Faculty of Computing and Data Science (CDS), took that belief to heart on October 25-26, 2025, at the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences. Led […]
At Boston University, innovation isn’t limited to the lab or the classroom — it happens whenever students are given the space to explore real problems and design meaningful solutions. This year’s DS+X Hackathon’s HackBU track embodied that vision, bringing together students from across disciplines to create tools that make research more accessible and improve the […]
For years, Raheeq Ibrahim (CDS ’25) had been sitting on an idea inspired by her family — a way to help small business owners find the right pop-up markets and bring more transparency to the market ecosystem. It wasn’t until she took XC475: Spark! Innovation Fellowship Program, where she finally found the structure, mentorship, and momentum […]
When Curtis Mason looks back on his time at Boston University, one community stands out as the most rewarding part of his college experience: Spark!. “As a student, I was very active within the Spark! community,” he recalls. “I think it’s easily the most rewarding department of Boston University’s computer science and entrepreneurship programs.” Curtis’s […]
As the Spring 2025 semester wrapped up, Spark! students proved once again that their learning doesn’t end in the classroom—it accelerates into impact. This past Friday, the BU Center for Computing & Data Sciences buzzed with energy as students, faculty, staff, and Spark! partners gathered for Demo Day—a staple of the Spring 2025 Experiential Learning […]
CivicHacks 2025 brought together 192 students from diverse backgrounds for a high-energy, impact-driven hackathon at the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences. With stunning views of Boston from the 17th floor, students spent two days collaborating on technology-driven solutions to real-world challenges. Guided by mentors, industry experts, and fellow hackers, participants turned ideas […]
Last week’s Civic Tech Hackathon proved that we’re in good hands when it comes to the next generation of students influencing the future of technology. On February 22-23, 2025, Boston University’s Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences transformed into a hub of innovation for the 2025 Civic Tech Hackathon. In record turnout for the […]
For Spark! students, the end of the semester doesn’t signal an end to their work. It is merely the beginning, as they demonstrated during Demo Day Fall 2024. In bi-annual Spark! fashion, BU students, faculty, staff, and Spark! partners alike filled Floors 1 & 2 of the BU Center for Computing & Data Sciences this […]
Boston University students create solutions for voter access, financial inclusion, and mental health Boston University’s innovation hub, BU Spark!, kicked off the academic year by hosting their annual Welcome Back Mini Hack on October 5, 2024. Designed as a gateway into tech for underclassmen, this hackathon introduces new students to the world of coding, collaboration, […]
While campus life promises to come to a stall in the upcoming weeks, Demo Day Spring 2024 proved that Spark! students are always innovating, no matter the season. BU students, faculty, staff, and Spark! partners alike filled Floors 1 & 2 of the BU Center for Computing & Data Sciences this past Thursday to celebrate […]