BU Spark! closed out the Fall 2025 semester not just with projects, but with powerful solutions that offer a genuine hope for a better future by showcasing how student innovation is driving meaningful change. Demo Day, as part of the Experiential Learning Expo, brought together students, faculty, and industry partners to witness firsthand the ingenious […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Demo Day Spring 2023 proved once again that Spark! students’ creativity and commitment to positive change is unmatched. This year, Demo Day was held in the new Spark! Space on Floor 2 of the BU Center for Computing & Data Sciences, with people joining both in-person and online. We’re excited so many people showed up […]
Students from across the country participated in the BU and Howard University co-hosted the event in BU’s Center for Computing & Data Sciences An app that lets you roleplay as your city councilor, a website that matches female students in STEM with mentors, or learning financial literacy skills starting in elementary school—these are all […]
By now, it’s essentially a fact that Spark! students continuously show up and show out, and Fall Demo Day 2022 was no different. In record fashion, almost 220 people came together in the Questrom School of Business Auditorium in person and virtually to witness what’s been a semester’s worth of innovation for students in the […]