{"id":18680,"date":"2025-10-21T04:00:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T08:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/?p=18680"},"modified":"2025-10-28T06:11:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:11:41","slug":"students-prep-for-ds-x-hackathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/2025\/10\/21\/students-prep-for-ds-x-hackathon\/","title":{"rendered":"Students Pack Laptops\u2014and Sleeping Bags\u2014for DS+X Hackathon at BU"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BkNcsb0crQM?si=-Fv0tFUBaoMWiZNs\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On October 25 &amp; 26, students, mentors, and organizers from across Boston University and beyond are packed more than just laptops\u2014they brought sleeping bags, pillows, and toothbrushes, ready for 30 hours of nonstop innovation.<\/p>\n<p><span>The two-day, overnight DS+X Hackathon was hosted at the Duan Family Center for Computing &amp; Data Sciences and organized by the Duan Family Spark! Initiative (Spark!) in collaboration with the Faculty of Computing &amp; Data Sciences (CDS), and BU IS&amp;T. <\/span>With 175 student hackers, two dozen industry mentors and judges, and over $5,000 in prizes and internship opportunities, the inaugural event brought together BU\u2019s brightest minds to explore what happens when data science meets everything else\u2014from health to climate, art, and public policy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe DS+X Hackathon is about allowing students to connect their passion for data science to their other passions while building skills in a fun and low-stress setting,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/profile\/zcranmer\/\">Ziba Cranmer<\/a>, Director of BU Spark! \u201cBy giving students the space, mentorship, and tools to explore the \u2018X\u2019\u2014whether that\u2019s BU data, art, or policy\u2014we\u2019re helping them build the creative and technical confidence to make meaningful change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Over 30 caffeine-fueled hours, student teams ideated, prototyped, and pitched innovative solutions that merge data-driven thinking with pressing global challenges. The hackathon\u2019s format encouraged bold experimentation and fast collaboration, and yes, an overnight stay in BU\u2019s iconic 19-story Duan Center for CDS building.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s something special about spending the night in the CDS building,\u201d said Cranmer. \u201cYou can feel the energy\u2014students coding, sketching, debating ideas, watching the sunrise over the Charles. This will be a uniquely BU experience that captures what the Duan Center was built for: collaboration, creativity, and community.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18826\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18826\" style=\"width: 646px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A2317-Enhanced-NR-636x424.jpg\" alt=\"BU Spark! DS+X Hackathon 2025 group photo\" width=\"636\" height=\"424\" class=\"wp-image-18826 size-medium\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A2317-Enhanced-NR-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A2317-Enhanced-NR-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A2317-Enhanced-NR-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A2317-Enhanced-NR-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A2317-Enhanced-NR-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A2317-Enhanced-NR-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">DS+X Hackathon 2025 group photo at the Duan Family Center for Computing &amp; Data Sciences Building<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Leveling Up: Skills, Mentorship, and Real-World Insight<\/h3>\n<p>At DS+X, students honed both technical and professional skills\u2014from coding and data visualization to teamwork and rapid problem-solving. Working alongside industry mentors, they gained hands-on experience and real-world insight that strengthen their resumes, build confidence, and prepare them for internships and data-driven careers.<\/p>\n<p>Mentors not only guided technical development but also help students think strategically\u2014offering career advice, shared insider perspectives from industry, and helped teams translate their creative ideas into viable, real-world solutions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHackathons like DS+X embody the spirit of experiential learning,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/profile\/azer-bestavros\/\">Azer Bestavros<\/a>, Associate Provost for Computing &amp; Data Sciences. \u201cThey bring together mentorship, creativity, and collaboration\u2014giving students a chance to turn ideas into impact and to see what\u2019s possible when data science meets imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1181-636x454.jpg\" alt=\"DS+X Hackathon 2025 student teams\" width=\"636\" height=\"454\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-18842 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1181-636x454.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1181-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1181-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1181-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1181-2048x1463.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1181-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Open to All Experience Levels<\/h3>\n<p>No coding experience? No problem. The DS+X Hackathon welcomed all experience levels, from first-time hackers to seasoned competitors. There was a dedicated beginner track for newcomers, complete with mentors and hands-on workshops to help students learn the ropes. Non-technical students\u2014those with backgrounds in design, art, policy, or any of the X disciplines\u2014were also encouraged to join and bring fresh perspectives to technical challenges.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1055-636x454.jpg\" alt=\"DS+X Hackathon 2025 student teams\" width=\"636\" height=\"454\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-18838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1055-636x454.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1055-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1055-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1055-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1055-2048x1463.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1055-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Choose Your Track, Find Your Challenge<\/h3>\n<p>Participants selected from a range of DS+X options\u2014such as Data Science, which includes AI, + Finance, + Health, + Art, + Public Policy, + Climate, and more\u2014each offering unique challenges, mentorship, and prizes. Over two days, students \u201chacked\u201d together creative solutions like apps, chatbots, interactive dashboards, IoT devices, games, ML models, AI agents, and other cutting-edge prototypes that push the boundaries of data science. This hackathon emphasized not just the technical side of hacking, but also the process, ethics, and responsibility\u2014core principles for data scientists shaping the future.<\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1005-636x424.jpg\" alt=\"DS+X Hackathon 2025 classroom photo\" width=\"636\" height=\"424\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-18836 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1005-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1005-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1005-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1005-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1005-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/files\/2025\/10\/2J3A1005-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3>Mentorship That Fuels Innovation<\/h3>\n<p>Mentorship is a defining feature of the DS+X experience. This year\u2019s mentors hailed from leading organizations, including Red Hat, Microsoft, Fidelity, BU IS&amp;T, BU Libraries, DataDog, Mass General Hospital, and others. They guided teams through the creative process, share industry insights, and help students turn ambitious ideas into polished projects ready for presentation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s something magical about what happens when students immerse themselves in this kind of creative intensity,\u201d said Cranmer. \u201cThey\u2019re not just building projects\u2014they\u2019re building confidence, connections, and the mindset to tackle complex problems through collaboration and experimentation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With collaboration spaces buzzing, whiteboards filled with code and sketches, the DS+X Hackathon was one of BU\u2019s most exciting events of the year\u2014proving that when you mix data science with creativity, the possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span><a class=\"button-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/ds-x-website-production.up.railway.app\/\">Learn More<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students are gearing up for the DS + X Hackathon event with their laptops, sleeping bags, pillows, and toothbrushes, all for 2 days of nonstop innovation at BU.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18839,"featured_media":18683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[229,883,792,232,411,907,514,233,1],"tags":[27,343,525,376,22,550,901,477,551,346],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18680"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18839"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18680"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18845,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18680\/revisions\/18845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cds-faculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}