Our institute is happy to be part of the NASA Space Apps Challenge - the world's largest mass collaboration, inspiring creative minds of all backgrounds & skill levels to tackle real-world problems using space data, both on Earth and beyond!

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is the largest annual global hackathon. This two-day event creates innovation through international collaboration by providing an opportunity for participants to utilize NASA’s free and open data and its Space Agency Partners’ space-based data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space.

During the hackathon, NASA Space Apps Challenge participants around the world gather at hundreds of in-person and virtual Local Events to address challenges submitted by NASA Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). These challenges range in complexity and topic, tasking participants with everything from creating artistic visualizations of NASA data to conceptualizing and developing informational apps and software programs.

After the hackathon, project submissions are judged by space agency experts and winners are selected for one of 10 Global Awards.

This year IIASA will participate as an official partner for the local NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 in Vienna. 

IIASA researcher Jan Steinhauser, Researcher in the Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group will lead the NASA Space Apps Junior Challenge, helping young innovators shape the future. Monica Shishodia, Research Software Developer, in the Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group will represent IIASA on the local Vienna judge panel. 

We are very excited to be part of this amazing event!