{"id":8195,"date":"2025-11-13T12:00:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T17:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/spark\/?p=8195"},"modified":"2025-11-13T12:08:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T17:08:38","slug":"where-data-meets-imagination-inside-bus-dsx-hackathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/spark\/2025\/11\/13\/where-data-meets-imagination-inside-bus-dsx-hackathon\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Data Science Meets Imagination: Inside BU\u2019s DS+X Hackathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Boston University, hackathons aren\u2019t just about crafting flawless code anymore \u2014 they\u2019re about creativity, connection, and impact. The DS+X Hackathon<\/strong>, a collaboration between BU Spark! and the Faculty of Computing and Data Science<\/a> (CDS), took that belief to heart on October 25-26, 2025, at the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Led by students Imran Hussien and Alena Patel, alongside teammates Kadiatou Diallo, Khaleel Nafiu, and Makeda Hailu, the DS+X hackathon leadership team spent months crafting an experience that felt less like a competition and more like a creative playground for the nearly 200 student hackers in attendance. With guidance from Ziba Cranmer, Spark!\u2019s Founding Director, they built something that reimagines what hacking can mean and who it\u2019s for.<\/p>\n

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A New Kind of Hackathon<\/h3>\n

The \u201cX\u201d in DS+X was intentional \u2014 and wide open. It\u2019s a variable for whatever moves you. Data Science + Climate. Data Science + Public Policy. Data Science + Justice. Data Science + Whatever you’re passionate about.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The event was born out of a shift the organizers call \u201cHackathon 2.0.\u201d Gone are the days when hackathons were about isolated technical puzzles with no connection to the real world. DS+X is about crossing disciplines, mixing passions, and seeing what happens when data science collides with art, ethics, design, and storytelling. As Hussien puts it, \u201cData science is no longer just a technical skill \u2014 it\u2019s a creative, civic, and connective force,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

This force came to life across a multitude of tracks: Art + Computing, HackBU, First-Year, and an Open Track. Each track offered unique challenges, mentorship, and prizes tailored to their interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

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An Inclusive Space for All<\/h3>\n

A core goal of DS+X was to make hacking accessible, not intimidating. That\u2019s why the team created a dedicated First-Year Track<\/strong>, giving new students a guided, low-pressure space to explore. Workshops covered everything from coding basics to project storytelling. Mentors were on call for questions big and small (literally \u2014 there was a \u201cNo Stupid Questions\u201d zone). And a special set of First-Year prizes ensured beginners were recognized for their ideas despite their limited experience.<\/p>\n

The Open Track: Passion Takes the Lead<\/h3>\n

If the First-Year Track was about access, the Open Track<\/strong> was about imagination. Instead of being handed a problem, participants worked with possibilities. Here, \u201cX\u201d could mean anything from climate action, accessibility, mental health, music, and fashion \u2014 in other words, whatever sparked curiosity. Students built projects that reflected who they are and what they care about, proving that the best ideas often come from unexpected intersections. “It\u2019s a space to roam, remix, and prototype ideas that reflect your passion, powered by data science,” Hussein says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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🏆 DS+X 2025 Hackathon Winners<\/h2>\n

This year\u2019s submissions showed just how boundless \u201cX\u201d can be and redefined what\u2019s possible when students merge creativity with computation. Check out the full list of submissions here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best Overall (+ HackBU 1st Place)<\/span><\/h3>\n

RhettSearch<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

At Boston University, we noticed something: many students are curious about research \u2014 they want to explore, create, and make an impact \u2014 but they don\u2019t know where to start. Opportunities often feel hidden behind walls of information, unclear requirements, or scattered resources. At the same time, professors are looking for passionate students who align with their projects but struggle to find them efficiently. We wanted to bridge that gap \u2014 to turn curiosity into action.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we built Research Dashboard (RhettSearch), a platform that helps students discover their research style, connect with mentors, and explore real projects around BU. It\u2019s not just a tool; it\u2019s a launchpad for discovery \u2014 helping every student take the first confident step toward becoming a researcher.<\/p>\n