Innovate across disciplines this October at BU: AI, art, wellness, bioinformatics, and beyond. Team up, build fast, and turn big ideas into reality in just one weekend.
Where Data Science Meets Everything
DS+X stands for Data Science + X: where X is any domain, discipline, or challenge you want to explore.
The idea is simple: data science is powerful on its own, but when you combine it with something else, it becomes transformative. That "X" could be:
• DS + Art
• DS + Public Policy
• DS + Health
• DS + Climate
• DS + Finance
The "X" is whatever you're passionate about. It's your field, your cause, or your curiosity and DS+X is the framework to combine it with the tools of data science to solve real-world problems.
Whether you're a coder, a designer, a storyteller, or an activist, DS+X invites you to bring your unique expertise and merge it with the analytical power of data.
The Shift: Hackathon 1.0 → Hackathon 2.0
Process over product • Ethics • Design • AI orchestration
Product-first mindset
Build the most impressive final product possible. Judging focused on the end result.
- • Output at demo time matters most
- • Depth of features over clarity of process
- • Less emphasis on tools, data provenance, or ethics
Process + product
How you build matters: reasoning, tooling, ethics, and cross‑disciplinary thinking.
- • Approach and decision rationale
- • Creative AI leverage and orchestration
- • Design intent, accessibility, and ethical safeguards
- • Real‑world data sourcing and transparency
Workshops for the age of AI
AI orchestration, prompt engineering, no‑code prototyping, ethical safeguards, and real‑world data sourcing — tools to innovate responsibly and effectively.
Four distinct pathways, countless possibilities for cross-disciplinary innovation
Tracks
Choose your path and dive deep into specialized areas of innovation. Each track offers unique challenges, mentorship, and prizes tailored to your interests.
HackBU (DS + AI)
Dive into data science, analytics, and AI innovation. Build intelligent solutions that transform how we understand and interact with data.
Why HackBU?
Remix BU data into campus upgrades—smarter dining, next-gen housing, passion projects that hit home. Pair GenAI copilots with Terrier-only datasets and ship something the whole university can feel.
Art + Computing
Explore the intersection of creativity and technology. Build projects that push the boundaries of digital art and interactive experiences.
First-Year / Beginner
Perfect for newcomers to hackathons. Get guided learning, mentorship, and build your first project in a supportive environment.
DS + X Open Track
Bring your own passion and context. Cross-disciplinary innovation where data science meets your unique perspective and expertise.
The X Factor
This track celebrates interdisciplinary thinking. Whether you're passionate about biology, economics, or social justice, data science can amplify your impact.
Ready to choose your path?
Grab Your Spot Now!Program
Two days of inspiring talks, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to push the boundaries of digital design.
Workshops
Hands-on sessions with cutting-edge tools
- • AI Ethics Workshop (Led by Seth Villegas)
- • No‑Code AI Prototyping (Led by Asad Malik)
- • API Crash Course (Led by Saad Naji)
- • Art & GenAI (Led by Halim Lee)
- • Intro to Figma (Led by Lingyi Kong)
- • Art & Hardware Lab: RASTIC/BUILDS (Led by Ken Sebesta)
- • VibeCoding with Replit (Led by Richard Kasperowski)
- • AI + Sound: Generative Music & Audio Design (Led by Abby Gualda)
- • Prompt Engineering 101 (Led by Roger Hunt)
Sponsors
Prizes
Celebrate the best builds across every track—from ambitious data-driven experiences to first-time hacker breakthroughs. Explore the categories and the rewards waiting for winning teams.
Prize Categories
Tracks and challenges that spotlight creativity, technical execution, and domain impact.
Prizes
Gear, gadgets, and experiences up for grabs for every track winner.
FAQs
Everything you need to know about joining our hackathon. Have more questions? Reach out to our team.
Getting Started
Feeling ready to build what's next?
Click to Sign Up!Join Our Team
Help shape the future of data science innovation. We're looking for passionate professionals to guide and evaluate the next generation of builders.
Become a Judge
Evaluate innovative projects and help identify the most impactful solutions. Your expertise will guide teams toward building meaningful, ethical, and technically sound applications.
- • Evaluate project presentations
- • Assess technical implementation
- • Judge innovation and impact
- • Provide constructive feedback
11:15 AM - 2:00 PM
~3 hours total
Become a Mentor
Guide teams through their hackathon journey. Share your expertise, help troubleshoot challenges, and inspire the next generation of data scientists and innovators.
- • Provide technical guidance
- • Help with project direction
- • Share industry insights
- • Support team collaboration
Flexible 2-4 hour shifts
Choose your availability