About Us
LunarHacks strives to engage more women and non-binary individuals in the fields of STEM by empowering the next generation of women+ leaders. We wish to create an encouraging environment for our participants while breaking stereotypical gender barriers that exist in today's society.
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In 2021, we hosted our first hackathon under the name SheCanSTEM, in which we had over 200 participants. Our hackathon this year will again feature exciting STEM-related activities, including a variety of workshops and panels. Female and non-binary students in high school or undergraduate programs will be able to network, meet new people, and compete for prizes, all while exploring their passions for computer science.
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If you are interested in volunteering at our event as a speaker, panelist, mentor, or judge, please email us at hello@lunarhacks.com.
Tracks
1
Environment
This track involves topics relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition. In some areas, we have gotten closer to our sustainability goals, but in others, there has been little to no progress. It’s your chance to tackle issues on sustainability, energy use, climate change, and other innovative resolutions to improve how we interact with the environment!
2
Health
According to the World Health Organization, health is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity". The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion affirms that in order to be healthy, “an individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment”. Your task is to develop a solution for one or more of these subcategories!
3
Social Justice
Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. This area is concerned with economic, social, legal, and political factors which affect equality, racism and sexism, cultural discrimination, social prejudices, income gaps and much more. Use this opportunity to create a project that addresses an issue in any category that falls under the umbrella of “social justice”!
Sponsors
If interested in sponsoring LunarHacks 2022, please email us at hello@lunarhacks.com. Our sponsorship prospectus can be found here.
FAQ
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What is a hackathon?A hackathon is a competition-style social coding event in which participants solve problems with the help of computer science. LunarHacks will be an enriching, activity-packed event where you will be able to bond with other women+ interested in tech while making connections and creating ground-breaking projects; and don’t forget the possibility of winning a prize!
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Who is eligible to participate in LunarHacks?Any high school or postsecondary student (in university, college, etc.) identifying as part of a marginalized gender identity may participate in LunarHacks. This includes but is not limited to women and non-binary individuals.
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Do I need a team?While you are welcome to participate alone, we strongly encourage that you form a team even if you don’t know anyone at the hackathon! By forming a team you would be meeting other young women+ with similar interests as you, while building more connections in the world of STEM. If you don't have a team and would like one, don't worry - we'll have ways you can meet many new potential teammates throughout the 3 days.
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How do I find a team if I don't have one?You will have plenty of opportunities to form a team throughout the first day or two, such as through our team formation Discord channel or the team formation activities we will be hosting. With the help of these opportunities, you’ll be able to introduce yourself and learn about others in order to meet other participants and create a project together over the weekend!
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How many people can be on a team?Teams must be made up of 1 to 4 participants in order to be eligible to win prizes.
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Do I need to know how to code?Nope! Anyone eligible will be able to participate regardless of the amount of previous coding experience they have. We even have a dedicated track for first time hackers! This hackathon is meant to serve as a fun learning experience, so we hope that beginners and pros alike will be able to walk out with some more knowledge and connections at the end of the weekend.
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What will I need to participate?You will only need a computer and a stable WiFi connection. We'll be using Discord and Zoom throughout the weekend, so downloading or making an account for those in advance would be useful as well. (Some workshops will require additional software, but we'll let you know more details later!) Finally, we'd also recommend having some comfortable clothes and snacks!
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How will mentoring work?There will be tech mentors available throughout the entire weekend if you ever need help or guidance with your project. You’ll be able to request for them and communicate through Discord or video call if needed. More information about mentor bios can be found on the hackathon Discord server.
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What are tracks?Tracks are different categories that you can create your project around and can also be used as guidance or inspiration. You will be able to submit your project to one track. Our three tracks for this hackathon are environment, health, and social justice. We also have sponsor challenges, which will give you the opportunity to win special prizes and perks offered by sponsors.
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Will there be swag?We will be mailing out small swag packages to participants living in Canada and the US! For the rest of the world, unfortunately, we currently cannot give out physical swag. Nonetheless, we will still have hundreds of dollars worth of digital freebies to distribute to all participants!
Our Team
Emily
Natalie
Angeline
Rebecca
Shukti
Cynthia
Eileen
Mikela
Alli
Linda
Crystal
Christina
