When and where?
15-16.11.2025 / Gdynia Aquarium
Who is it for?
We’re looking for bold, creative minds ready to craft engaging educational stories—visual, interactive, immersive, or multimedia—about aquatic ecosystems. From climate change and biodiversity loss to maritime heritage and civic engagement, your story can shift narratives and inspire action.
You’ll work in teams of 3–7 people. You can form your own team (recommended!) or join an existing one. You don’t need to be a coder—this hackathon welcomes everyone aged 15–25.
Participants will get access to the educational platform. The hackathon organisers provide support in storytelling development, content validation, and using digital tools.
This is an international competition co-organised by nine institutions.
What will we create during the hackathon?
Each team will design digital storytelling concepts (presentations) addressing local or regional issues related to ecosystem degradation, climate change, and sustainable practices.
Your project should focus on aquatic ecosystems and use at least one digital tool. The Gdynia Aquarium exhibition will serve as the backdrop for your stories. Participants may use digital and AI tools—for example, to design film concepts, interactive websites, apps, animations, or other narrative forms exploring the importance of oceans and waters.
Each participant brings their own working tools. The Gdynia Aquarium provides workspace, light refreshments, and writing materials.
Each team must submit:
- a completed submission canvas (DigiEduHack project form)
- a 3-minute pitch in English describing the idea, process, team, and goals
- optionally, a prototype (a demonstrative version of the project)
Evaluation criteria are available on the DigiEduHack challenge page:
https://digieduhack.com/challenges/hack-the-blue-digital-stories-for-a-water-wise-world
Prizes
€700 – for the best solution
€300 – for the runner-up
Participants will also receive gift packs from the local organisers.
Additionally, the best local team will be awarded a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the Gdynia Aquarium.
Hackathon schedule
Saturday, 15 November
9:30 CET / Global DigiBlue DigiEduHack Kick-off (max 15 min), led by BonoLab and Alrose Consulting.
10:00–15:00 CET / Online mentoring sessions available. Local mentoring coordinated by onsite organisers.
Local closing time decided individually.
Sunday, 16 November
9:30 CET – Global check-in (English, max 10 min; at least one team member must attend), led by BonoLab and Alrose Consulting.
10:00–12:00 CET – Online mentoring sessions available.
13:00 CET – Submission deadline.
13:15–15:30 CET – Jury deliberation (online, one shared jury for all locations).
15:30 CET – Global connection and announcement of winners (max 45 min).
How to join?
To participate, contact your local organiser – Gdynia Aquarium (NMFRI).
You’ll need to register as a hackathon participant to receive your participation certificate after the event.
Hackathon idea
Join a global creative hackathon to co-develop digital stories about oceans, rivers, and water systems.
Help us build ocean awareness using AI and digital tools to reveal the hidden value of aquatic life and ecosystems.
Oceans, seas, and inland waters are essential for life on Earth—they sustain biodiversity, regulate climate, and shape our cultural identity.
The DigiBlue project combines traditional storytelling with 21st-century digital tools to raise awareness of our deep interconnection with aquatic ecosystems.
Project partners:
Alrose Consultants
Gdynia Aquarium NMFRI
Baltic Living Lab
Blue Anew
BonoLab
Den Levende Fiskerihavn
Global Skills Network
I Vandet
Marine Education Center in Malmö
University of Copenhagen
More information:
https://digieduhack.com/challenges/hack-the-blue-digital-stories-for-a-water-wise-world