The Artificial Intelligence (AI) strand of our Stronger Together programme aims to develop specialised skills that will enable young leaders to design AI-based solutions to address social and climate challenges.

AI is seen as a technology that has the potential to solve some of the biggest global challenges facing us today. Young people have the power to influence the future of AI and whether it will be used as a tool for shaping solutions to real-world problems. It is a field in which they will be called upon to act critically, influence others and support wider society. It is crucial to channel our youth leadership work towards a field that will empower young people to be at the forefront of progress and make a positive impact through social action.

Through its activities, the project aims to engage young people in creative thinking and foster innovative ideas and solutions for pressing contemporary issues.

In addition, we seek to establish a platform for exchange between young leaders and national and European policymakers on the critical challenges and best practices in promoting artificial intelligence for the common good through the final policy dialogue we are planning (see below).

Green Cities

Green Cities is the theme of this year’s hackathon. Participants will be invited to generate creative ideas aimed at improving people’s lives in urban areas by making them more sustainable and eco-friendly.

Hackathon

In collaboration with hack{cyprus} and the Nicosia Municipality Multifunctional Foundation, we are organising an Artificial Intelligence for the Common Good hackathon on the theme of Green Cities.

Who we are looking for

Applicants must be aged 18–35, have a good understanding of English and a background in one of the following fields:

  • Computer science/engineering/mathematics/life sciences/architecture/urban development or planning etc. – people who have a background in one of these fields.
  • Climate activism/environmental or social sciences – people who support social justice, are proponents of environmental sustainability and know what the Sustainable Development Goals are.
  • Social innovation or entrepreneurship – people who design solutions that aim to improve the welfare and well-being of individuals and communities. We are looking for people who can be creative and think outside of the box.

How it works

Participants will form teams and receive training from our UK expert Mike Lloyd on how they can use artificial intelligence to design solutions to the contemporary challenge of making cities sustainable. There is no need to be an expert on AI or on climate change/social justice topics to participate as the hackathon will involve training in fundamental AI principles. Mentors will support each team through the process.

The teams will then try to generate creative ideas and design a solution through AI tools to respond to the challenges of the global climate crisis, create an original idea and present it in front of a jury that will select a winning team. The winning team will be awarded with a study visit to Bristol in 2024.

What you will get

  • A creative 2.5 days, where you will have the chance to meet new people, learn the basics of AI and apply them to find solutions to issues of sustainability in urban environments.
  • The opportunity to pitch your idea and win a study visit to the UK with other teams from similar hackathons in Europe.
  • Food and coffee to energise you.

What is required

Participants should:

  • have a good understanding of English as the hackathon will be in English
  • be living in Cyprus as this is a face-to-face activity
  • bring their personal laptops to work with during the hackathon – tablets and mobile phones are not supported
  • have Windows 10 (or above) or the latest version of MacOS and the Microsoft Teams application installed – Linux is not supported.

When and where

The hackathon will take place on Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November 2023 at KEEAED in Nicosia.

Participants are expected to be present for the whole duration of the event.

How to apply

To take part in the hackathon, complete the online application form by Friday 10 November 2023 (13.00 EET):

Apply now

Please note that places are limited.

We will notify successful applicants by the evening of Friday 10 November.

Participation is free and participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Our UK expert

Our trainer Mike Lloyd is a leading expert in technology and will assist teams in facilitating their ideas and transforming them into real solutions based on AI. Mike is a technology leader and Fellow of the British Computer Society. His passion lies in democratising Deep Tech. Mike started his career in engineering, spent a decade teaching in schools and at the Open University, and then held a senior international position at Microsoft for over a decade.

In September 2013, Mike founded learn-tech.io, a London-based technology start-up, with a focus on developing learning solutions in AI, the Internet of Things and climate change mitigation. Mike is the author of Schooling at the Speed of Thought – a guide to transforming education – and has designed numerous courses, including AI Demystified, AI for Leaders and Digital Technology Demystified.

He is also the inventor of ZEP Island, an educational game that helps people learn how technology and data can be used to mitigate climate change.

Our mentors

Andreas Lefkatis

Andreas leads DevOps engineering at Hellenic Bank, utilising his extensive software development background and proficiency in cloud technologies and mobile development. With a strong dedication to improving operational efficiency, he specialises in creating seamless automations and deployment strategies, aiming for enhanced performance and scalability.

Maria Terzi

Maria is the Co-Founder and CEO of Malloc. She holds a BSc in Computer Science and PhD in Machine Learning from the University of Lancaster. She has worked at Google, KIOS CoE and UCY among others. Maria has won two Google/RSA hackathons and she is in the organising team of hack{cyprus}.

Michael Schinis

Michael is an experienced Mobile Engineer with a strong focus on making data-driven product decisions, building teams and building products that customers love. He is a hackathon veteran, organising hackathons on a national level in Cyprus with hack{cyprus} and pan-european hackathons such as EUvsVirus.

Zenios Agapiou

Zenios is a Mobile Engineering Manager at Hellenic Bank with extensive expertise in mobile, backend and web development. With a proven track record of advocating agile processes, he orchestrates innovative solutions, driving digital transformation in the financial sector.

Our partners

The programme is delivered in collaboration with hack{cyprus} and the Nicosia Municipality Multifunctional Foundation.

It is also supported by the Cyprus University of Technology, the University of Cyprus, the University of Central Lancashire Cyprus, the European University Cyprus, the University of Nicosia and Frederick University.

The event is taking place under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of the Republic of Cyprus.

Study visit to Bristol, UK

Winning teams of the hackathon will be awarded with a study visit to Bristol – one of the leading sustainable cities in the UK – in March 2024. Bristol was the first British city to be named European Green Capital, an award that celebrates and promotes innovative responses to urban environmental challenges. The winning teams will have the opportunity to visit relevant institutions and expand their knowledge about how AI is being used to find solutions for sustainable urban living. Participants will also meet the winning teams from other countries where hackathons took place, facilitating the exchange of ideas and networking.

International youth policy dialogue event

During the study visit to Bristol, participants will be invited to join a youth policy dialogue event, where they will engage with experts in AI, sustainability and social impact, as well as policymakers, researchers, companies and academics. The purpose of the event is to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in creating social value and initiate discussions about the role of youth as leaders for social change and drivers of the new technological era.

Further information

For further information, please contact Marilena Kyriakou at Marilena.Kyriakou@cy.britishcouncil.org.

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