Innovate the Lake
Erie Hack is an innovation challenge that accelerates technology solutions to Lake Erie’s most pressing problems. During this year’s competition in 2019, Erie Hack will empower researchers, designers, engineers, developers and creatives around the region to build teams, develop innovations, and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes. Launched in 2017, the program is led by the Cleveland Water Alliance in collaboration with partners in Detroit, Toledo, Ohio, Erie, Pa., Buffalo, N.Y. and Windsor, Ontario. Together these partners help engage the region’s best minds to work for our most precious resource. This year, Erie Hack 2.0 will again culminate in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 20 around the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. So please join us in celebrating the five decades of water innovation that followed the river burning by supporting the next generation of high-tech water trailblazers. To register, click the account/register tab above.
CHALLENGE STATEMENTS
In 2016, Cleveland Water Alliance worked with the Creativity & Innovation Team at NASA Glenn Research Center to develop a unique collaborative idea generation process. These “Ideation Sessions” were designed around the goal of identifying the most pressing challenges facing the Lake Erie Basin. Representatives of more than 150 water and technology organizations participated and contributed their expertise. This process gave birth to seven core Challenge Statements for Erie Hack.
The Challenge Statements are the guiding force of the Erie Hack. Each participating team will choose one or more challenge statements to “hack” for the competition. Each statement addresses a broad area of concern as well as a few possible entry points for a technical solution. Teams’ effectiveness in creating a viable solution will be essential to their success in the competition.
Data
To maximize the impact of each team’s project, the Cleveland Water Alliance is partnering with Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) to curate a robust collection of data sets and tools relevant to the competition’s Challenge Statements. Comprised of data from a broad range of sources throughout the Basin, this resource will inform and empower teams’ efforts to create the most innovative coding and engineering solutions for our lake. Click here to visit the GLOS website and access data resources. For technical support contact TadSlawecki at tslawecki@limno.com. If you are interested in contributing additional data to the Erie Hack or accessing specific data sources, please contact Cleveland Water Alliance at ErieHack@clewa.org.
Past Success
In its first year in 2017, Erie Hack made some notable achievements, including:
- Generating more than 40 innovative solutions to water challenges.
- Engaging more than 100 partner organizations.
- Attracting media coverage from over more than 150 press outlets globally.
- Awarding over $100,000 in prize money and acceleration services to top performing teams.
Other Key Outcomes:
- Six Key Challenges Identified by Community Ideation.
- 200+ Participating Innovators on 40+ Competing Teams.
- 100+ Collaborating Organizations Engaged.
- 22 Public Events in 6 Cities and 2 Countries.
- Coverage by NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
- Press Coverage in 39 States, D.C., and Ontario.
- 90% Teams “See water resources and work in our region as more significant.”
- 73% Teams “More interested in water-based innovation.”
- Continued Engagement with 11 Teams including involvement in numerous projects, grant applications, and funding opportunities.
Erie Hack Finalists (2017):
Extreme Comms (Buffalo) – Acoustic telemetry- based WiFi capable of transmitting high volumes of data underwater.
Micro Buoy (Detroit) – Nano-sensors for phosphorous, nitrogen and lead, powered by a custom a micro-battery.
Plex Net (Toledo) – 3D-printed aquatic drones designed to detect, capture, and repurpose harmful algae as it forms.
Orbitist (Buffalo) – Connecting communities to the value of water through visualization and a crowd-sourced data app.
Water Warriors (Cleveland) – Open-Source, 3D-printed spectrometers to engage youth in citizen science.
Hydrosense (Cleveland)– Distributed network of low-cost, real-time water quality sensors for harmful algae detection.
Purily (Detroit) – App that connects communities to the value of water by gamifying household water conservation.
Water Watchers (Buffalo) – SMS client to share and receive critical water safety information without internet access.
Fish.io.ai (Cleveland) – App for fishers that identifies catches, shares regulatory info, and crowd sources catch data.
Summit
JUNE 20, 2019
Erie Hack 2.0 culminates on June 20, 2019 with the Water Technology Innovation Summit. In addition to providing a forum for the Erie Hack Finals, this event will include keynote speakers, expert panels and technical workshops focused on the various sectors of the burgeoning Blue Economy. Stay tuned for more details on the Summit soon.
Innovate the Lake
Erie Hack is an innovation challenge that accelerates technology solutions to Lake Erie’s most pressing problems. During this year’s competition in 2019, Erie Hack will empower researchers, designers, engineers, developers and creatives around the region to build teams, develop innovations, and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes. Launched in 2017, the program is led by the Cleveland Water Alliance in collaboration with partners in Detroit, Toledo, Ohio, Erie, Pa., Buffalo, N.Y. and Windsor, Ontario. Together these partners help engage the region’s best minds to work for our most precious resource. This year, Erie Hack 2.0 will again culminate in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 20 around the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. So please join us in celebrating the five decades of water innovation that followed the river burning by supporting the next generation of high-tech water trailblazers. To register, click the account/register tab above.
CHALLENGE STATEMENTS
In 2016, Cleveland Water Alliance worked with the Creativity & Innovation Team at NASA Glenn Research Center to develop a unique collaborative idea generation process. These “Ideation Sessions” were designed around the goal of identifying the most pressing challenges facing the Lake Erie Basin. Representatives of more than 150 water and technology organizations participated and contributed their expertise. This process gave birth to seven core Challenge Statements for Erie Hack.
The Challenge Statements are the guiding force of the Erie Hack. Each participating team will choose one or more challenge statements to “hack” for the competition. Each statement addresses a broad area of concern as well as a few possible entry points for a technical solution. Teams’ effectiveness in creating a viable solution will be essential to their success in the competition.
Data
To maximize the impact of each team’s project, the Cleveland Water Alliance is partnering with Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) to curate a robust collection of data sets and tools relevant to the competition’s Challenge Statements. Comprised of data from a broad range of sources throughout the Basin, this resource will inform and empower teams’ efforts to create the most innovative coding and engineering solutions for our lake. Click here to visit the GLOS website and access data resources. For technical support contact TadSlawecki at tslawecki@limno.com. If you are interested in contributing additional data to the Erie Hack or accessing specific data sources, please contact Cleveland Water Alliance at ErieHack@clewa.org.
Past Success
In its first year in 2017, Erie Hack made some notable achievements, including:
- Generating more than 40 innovative solutions to water challenges.
- Engaging more than 100 partner organizations.
- Attracting media coverage from over more than 150 press outlets globally.
- Awarding over $100,000 in prize money and acceleration services to top performing teams.
Other Key Outcomes:
- Six Key Challenges Identified by Community Ideation.
- 200+ Participating Innovators on 40+ Competing Teams.
- 100+ Collaborating Organizations Engaged.
- 22 Public Events in 6 Cities and 2 Countries.
- Coverage by NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
- Press Coverage in 39 States, D.C., and Ontario.
- 90% Teams “See water resources and work in our region as more significant.”
- 73% Teams “More interested in water-based innovation.”
- Continued Engagement with 11 Teams including involvement in numerous projects, grant applications, and funding opportunities.
Erie Hack Finalists (2017):
Extreme Comms (Buffalo) – Acoustic telemetry- based WiFi capable of transmitting high volumes of data underwater.
Micro Buoy (Detroit) – Nano-sensors for phosphorous, nitrogen and lead, powered by a custom a micro-battery.
Plex Net (Toledo) – 3D-printed aquatic drones designed to detect, capture, and repurpose harmful algae as it forms.
Orbitist (Buffalo) – Connecting communities to the value of water through visualization and a crowd-sourced data app.
Water Warriors (Cleveland) – Open-Source, 3D-printed spectrometers to engage youth in citizen science.
Hydrosense (Cleveland)– Distributed network of low-cost, real-time water quality sensors for harmful algae detection.
Purily (Detroit) – App that connects communities to the value of water by gamifying household water conservation.
Water Watchers (Buffalo) – SMS client to share and receive critical water safety information without internet access.
Fish.io.ai (Cleveland) – App for fishers that identifies catches, shares regulatory info, and crowd sources catch data.
Summit
JUNE 20, 2019
Erie Hack 2.0 culminates on June 20, 2019 with the Water Technology Innovation Summit. In addition to providing a forum for the Erie Hack Finals, this event will include keynote speakers, expert panels and technical workshops focused on the various sectors of the burgeoning Blue Economy. Stay tuned for more details on the Summit soon.