Grid the Globe

Grid the Globe, a five-day hackathon running from September 30 to October 4, brings together students from diverse backgrounds to address a critical global issue: improving telecommunications access in remote or disaster-struck areas. Organised by the Google Developer Group on Campus and Engineers Without Borders at the University of Sydney, this event aims to harness the ingenuity of student participants to create sustainable, affordable, and mobile telecommunications solutions. The hackathon's purpose aligns with a broader mission of using technology to benefit society, particularly by improving the quality of life and opportunities for those in underserved regions.

Telecommunications and internet connectivity are essential for societal growth, yet many remote communities lack reliable access to these technologies. This deficit has severe implications for education, healthcare, community safety, and economic development. Participants in Grid the Globe are tasked with addressing these challenges by designing telecommunications systems that are:

• Low-cost and durable
• Easy to deploy in extreme conditions, including natural disasters or conflict zones
• Mobile, intuitive, and affordable for users with limited technical expertise

These systems should merge existing technologies with innovative applications, demonstrating the potential for small design changes to create significant impacts.

Event Structure

Grid the Globe 2024 spans five days, with a series of workshops, panel discussions, and expert presentations providing participants with insights into telecommunications challenges and solutions. The hackathon begins with an opening session led by Peter McArdle, Chief Engineer for EWB Australia, setting the tone for the week. Throughout the event, students will collaborate to ideate, design, and prototype telecommunications systems capable of functioning under extreme conditions, such as rurality, minimal infrastructure, or disaster scenarios.

The week culminates in a final presentation on October 4, where teams will showcase their solutions. A panel of industry experts, academics, and potentially Telstra representatives will judge the projects, evaluating them based on innovation, scalability, sustainability, and applicability. Winning teams will receive prizes provided by GDSC, EWB, and other event sponsors.

Focus Areas

Mobile, Intuitive, and Affordable Solutions: Participants are required to design telecommunications systems that are cost-effective and easy to deploy in communities with limited technical expertise. These systems must be robust enough to function in extreme environments, such as remote rural areas, disaster zones, or regions with heavy telecommunications regulations.

Sustainability and Innovation

A core theme of Grid the Globe is sustainability. Participants are encouraged to minimise environmental impact by integrating renewable resources into their designs. The hackathon promotes the use of current technologies while encouraging participants to find innovative applications that can result in scalable and significant advancements.

Humanitarian Impact

The hackathon focuses on addressing the telecommunications challenges faced by underserved communities, particularly those in remote areas. Solutions developed during the event aim to provide reliable connectivity that supports humanitarian aid, community engagement, and economic opportunities.