Category: Spark!

Spring Awakening: Innovation Takes Center Stage at Demo Day Spring 2025

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 […]

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CivicHacks 2025 Recap: A Weekend of Innovation, Collaboration, and Impact

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 […]

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2025 Civic Tech Hackathon Breaks Record in Attendance and Creativity

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 […]

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BU Spark! Hosts Welcome Back Mini Hack, Empowering Students to Tackle Social Challenges

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, […]

Civic Tech Hackathon Demonstrates the Power of Public Interest Technology for Second Year

Students from across the country participated in a two-day hackathon, spearheaded by Tech for Change, to solve society’s most pressing challenges. From data breaches to nationwide outages, technology is constantly battling against alarming complications. But there’s a new generation of students who believe technology should be used to foster a better and more equal society. […]

Uplifting Communities Through Innovation: Demo Day Fall 2023

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years at Demo Day, it’s that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. That would explain why students, faculty, staff, and Spark! partners alike gathered between Floors 1 & 2 of the BU Center for Computing & Data Sciences to bear witness to Fall 2023 Demo Day. Demo Day […]

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BU Spark! welcomes Taylor Beauvais and Seth Villegas

BU Spark! is excited to welcome Taylor Beauvais, data science program manager, and Seth Villegas, associate program manager, to the Spark! staff team. Taylor earned a master’s degree in public opinion, research methods, and data analytics from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from University at Buffalo […]

Celebrating the 2023 Firestarter Award recipients

Every year, Spark! honors graduating seniors who embody Spark!’s values and have made a unique impact during their time with the program. Spark!’s values are captured in five maxims: be an explorer; unlock possibilities; be you, be whole; be a team; make an impact.  This year, 14 students were presented with the Firestarter Award during […]