AUK Leads Global Innovation: Fifth Annual NASA Space Apps Challenge Inspires Creativity and Innovation

AUK continues to make its mark in global innovation by successfully organizing the 2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge, the world’s largest hackathon introduced by NASA. Sponsored by Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) – KIPCO, this milestone marks AUK’s fifth consecutive year as the exclusive host of the prestigious event in Kuwait, reaffirming its commitment to fostering creativity and technological advancement among young innovators.

Held at the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre, the 48-hour hackathon, themed “The Sun Touches Everything,” brought together over 200 participants from diverse backgrounds, including high school students, university students, graduates, and professionals. The event saw 31 teams take on NASA's complex challenges, working to develop innovative solutions in fields such as space exploration, climate resilience, and sustainability.

AUK’s role as the sole organizer of the NASA Space Apps Challenge in Kuwait highlights its leadership in promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and its mission to foster a dynamic learning environment that inspires innovation. 

AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, commented on the event and its caliber on a local and global scale, “The NASA Space App Challenge gave us the chance to team up with public and private partners, bringing together students, alumni, and adults from independent institutions and schools in Kuwait. This kind of collaboration is so important—it allows us as a community to learn together, share ideas, and tackle the big challenges facing our world, all while staying true to the AUK mission of making a real impact through education.”

Participants in this year's challenge formed multidisciplinary teams, including scientists, coders, graphic designers, space enthusiasts, and business strategists, to collaborate and create cutting-edge applications, games, and websites that addressed real-world challenges provided by NASA.
 
On her part, Ms. Eman Al Awadhi, KIPCO’s Group Senior Vice President – Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, said, “We are delighted to continue to collaborate with AUK in sponsoring the NASA Space Apps Challenge for the fifth year. This comes as part of our efforts to support innovation and encourage the next generation of creative minds in finding scientific solutions for real-world challenges.”
 
She added, “The challenges tackled throughout the event inspire young minds to explore new horizons in space and science, and also encourage teamwork for the development of innovative solutions. At KIPCO, we believe that this is an investment in the future, and we look forward to seeing the top three winners of this year's challenge representing Kuwait at the global level.”
 
Dr. Marwa Sharawi, assistant professor of Computer Science and the local lead for the 2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge in Kuwait, applauded the participants’ creativity and perseverance, stating, “Each participant has demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and dedication. This hackathon exemplifies how local talent can contribute to solving global challenges.” 

The event concluded with a closing ceremony, where winners were celebrated for their groundbreaking ideas and potential for real-world impact. A panel of esteemed judges evaluated the projects based on creativity, technical merit, and social impact. This distinguished panel included Dr. Mohammed El-Abd, AUK dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS); Dr. Ahmad Al Saber, acting director of the AUK Office of Research & Grants (ORG); Mr. Eric Van Hoecke, vice president of Middle East Operations at ST Engineering iDirect; and Mr. Khaled Al Jamaan, International Astronomical Union (IAU) representative. 

The first-place project, Elegant Earth Worm, led by Jaffer Mahdi, is an educational game designed for kids. The game aims to raise awareness about sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship by teaching children how everything on Earth is interconnected. Through engaging gameplay, it encourages young players to explore ways to improve the planet and understand the importance of sustainable practices.

The second-place project, Under Pressure, addressed NASA's "Beyond Sunlight" challenge by developing an immersive 3D simulation using Unity to explore the deep-sea environment. The interactive simulation allows users to delve into the underwater world, learning about marine ecosystems, energy formation, and natural processes in regions beyond sunlight's reach. 

The third-place project, KES Astronomy Team, introduced an innovative approach to astronomical data analysis by developing a website. The site is designed to educate young astronomers, particularly middle schoolers and teenagers, about exoplanet exploration. 

These teams will advance to NASA’s global judging stage, where their projects will compete against solutions from across the world.

Reflecting on the significance of the event, Dr. El-Abd highlighted AUK’s strategic role in encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers, “AUK is proud to lead initiatives that challenge young minds to think critically and creatively. The NASA Space Apps Challenge is not just about solving technical problems; it’s about inspiring a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that can shape the future of Kuwait and beyond.”

By hosting the NASA Space Apps Challenge, AUK continues to demonstrate its commitment to being a hub for innovation, creativity, and leadership in the STEM fields. This initiative is part of the University’s broader mission to cultivate a learning community that drives innovation and prepares students to meet the challenges of the future.
 
 
 

First place winners
  

Second place winners
  

Third place winners
  

NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 judges
  

Photo of tour for distinguished dignitaries and ambassadors
  

General photos of participants during the hackathon
  

General photos of participants during the hackathon
  

General photos of participants during the hackathon
  

Students during their presentation
  

Dr. Marwa Sharawi during her welcome speech