Embracing Innovation: My Mentorship Journey at the Beyond Dead Wood Hackathon

Last week, I had the privilege of serving as a mentor 👨‍💻 at the “Beyond Dead Wood” hackathon, organized by Ultrahack in Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮. I embarked on this journey with a simple goal: to immerse myself in an innovative environment where bright minds leverage environmental data 🌲 📊 in transformative ways.

As a mentor, my main responsibilities revolved around engaging with the teams upon request, discussing their ideas, and offering feedback. I provided guidance on various aspects of their projects, from data ingestion to refining their pitches. The diversity of projects was incredible, ranging from sustainability tools for consumers to decision-making tools and the detection of areas of high conservation value. It was inspiring to see teams leveraging technologies like AI 🤖, statistical modeling 🧮, and blockchain ⛓️ to address these challenges.

One of the most valuable contributions I made was advising on the use of environmental data from various sources. Teams were interested to learn about potential data sources that could enrich their projects. I encouraged them to explore open data from research infrastructures, which could provide diverse source of ecological information to enhance their solutions.

Participating as a mentor reaffirmed the value of my work in research infrastructures and data standardization. Seeing scientific data utilized in diverse and innovative ways was a profound reminder of the impact our work can have beyond the academic realm. The atmosphere of the hackathon was very friendly and energizing, and with a shared commitment to making a difference.

The hackathon not only provided a platform for innovation but also facilitated valuable networking opportunities. I connected with individuals from various sectors, gaining insights into the scientific and data landscape in Finland 🇫🇮. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of bringing together people from different backgrounds to develop solutions to pressing environmental issues.

To those considering participating in a hackathon, whether as a mentor or a participant, I say: Go for it. Allow yourself to be immersed in a new environment and learn from the experience. The “Beyond Dead Wood” hackathon was a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of solutions for a better world.