University of Galway · School of Computer Science

Computing Hackathon 2026

Innovation, Coding, and Creative Problem‑Solving

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📅 Wednesday, March 18, 2026 🏛️ Demo — CSB 2015 & CSB 2014  3:00–6:00 PM 🏆 Awards — SULT, Corrib Room  6:00–7:00 PM
About the Event

What is the Computing Hackathon?

The Computing Hackathon is a team‑based project challenge that runs across 12 weeks of the semester for GY350 BCT students taking Computing Systems CT101.

Student teams choose one of two themes and build a real, working system using university hardware.

Pick IoT is Bold to create interactive, sensor-driven projects with a Raspberry Pi 4 and Sense HAT — or choose Old is Gold to deploy and manage services on legacy PC server infrastructure.

Teams deliver a live public demo to a panel of judges at the semester's flagship showcase event, demonstrating technical depth, teamwork, and creative problem‑solving.

Module coordinator: Dr. Waqar Shahid Qureshi, School of Computer Science, University of Galway.

15%
Module Grade Weight
12
Weeks Duration
Event Details

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

💻

Live Demonstrations

CSB 2015 & CSB 2014
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Teams demo their working systems to the judging panel
🏆

Awards Ceremony

SULT, Corrib Room
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Winners announced and prizes awarded — all welcome
📋

What to Bring

Your Project + Demo
Hardware · Demo · Report
Have your system running and set up before 3:00 PM
Assessment Phases

Hackathon Timeline

Phase 1

Project Abstract

📅 Weeks 1–4
10% of Hackathon Grade

A one‑page abstract describing your team's chosen theme, proposed system, and high-level project plan.

Phase 2

Functional Requirements Document

📅 Weeks 6–7
25% of Hackathon Grade

A 4–5 page FRD detailing system requirements, architecture decisions, and your implementation plan.

Phase 3 ⭐ — Demo Day

Live Presentation & Demonstration

📅 Week 10 — Wednesday, March 18, 2026
35% of Hackathon Grade

Live demo to judges in CSB 2015/2014. Show your working system and present clearly within your time slot.

Phase 4

Final Design Document

📅 Week 14
30% of Hackathon Grade

A 4–5 page final report covering architecture, implementation details, testing results, and reflection.

Choose Your Challenge

Two Tracks, Two Technologies

🍓

IoT is Bold

Embedded Systems · Sensors · Real‑Time Data

Hardware Kit:  Raspberry Pi 4 · Sense HAT · Camera Module v3 · USB‑C Power Supply
  • 8×8 RGB LED matrix display output
  • Temperature, humidity & pressure sensors
  • Accelerometer, gyroscope & magnetometer
  • 12MP camera with 1080p video recording
  • 5‑button mini joystick for interaction
  • Wi‑Fi & Bluetooth connectivity
  • Categories: environmental monitoring, motion detection, interactive display, data logging
🖥️

Old is Gold

Legacy Servers · Web Services · Infrastructure

Hardware:  Legacy Desktop PC · HDD/SSD storage · Ethernet networking · 20 systems available
  • Static or dynamic web server
  • Database‑driven application
  • File sharing or media server
  • Real‑time communication server
  • Game or application server
  • System monitoring dashboard
  • Flexible network infrastructure on request
The Competitors

Competing Teams

2
Athlone
🍓 IoT is Bold
12
Rubus Labs
🍓 IoT is Bold
14
BikePi
🍓 IoT is Bold
17
De Biles
🍓 IoT is Bold
1
Error But Run
🖥️ Old is Gold
3
FireTech Innovators
🖥️ Old is Gold
4
jakub
🖥️ Old is Gold
5
JackAces
🖥️ Old is Gold
6
The Phoques
🖥️ Old is Gold
7
Pints++
🖥️ Old is Gold
8a
Lizards of the Roast
🖥️ Old is Gold
8b
Lizards of the Roast
🖥️ Old is Gold
9
Hackathon Tonight, Queen?
🖥️ Old is Gold
10
Shebang
🖥️ Old is Gold
11
The Burrito
🖥️ Old is Gold
13
Paranoid Androids
🖥️ Old is Gold
15
8Ball
🖥️ Old is Gold
16
Pocket Aces
🖥️ Old is Gold
18
HTK Studio
🖥️ Old is Gold
19
Golden Archive
🖥️ Old is Gold
Assessment

Judging Criteria

All presentations are assessed by a panel of judges using the following weighted criteria:

🎯
40%
Demonstration Quality
How well does the working system perform? Does it meet the stated project requirements?
🗣️
30%
Presentation Clarity
Is the project communicated clearly? Are visuals and explanations easy to follow?
⚙️
20%
Technical Communication
Can the team explain their technical decisions, architecture, and challenges clearly?
⏱️
10%
Time Management
Does the team complete the demo and Q&A within the allocated time slot?

Meet the Judges

Industry professionals who assessed the CT101 Hackathon 2026

👤
Joe Desbonnet
Senus
👤
Nigel Burke
Boston Scientific
👤
Ben Steele
Liberty Mutual
Resources

Hackathon Downloads

Key documents for participants, judges, and guests.

Judging Rubric Guide
Scoring criteria and guidance notes for judges
Judge Assessment Form
Official scoring sheet for use during demonstrations
FAQ & Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ When is hardware checked out and returned?

Hardware checkout is mid-Week 8. All kits (Raspberry Pi & Legacy PCs) must be returned by the end of Week 12.

❓ Can we switch tracks mid-semester?

No. Track selection is final after Phase 1. Hardware is limited (max 15 teams per theme), so commit to your chosen track from the start.

❓ What does Demo Day (Phase 3) involve?

Teams set up in CSB 2015 on designated tables. Judges visit each station and score based on the four criteria. Be set up and ready before 3:00 PM.

❓ Does the entire team need to present?

Yes. All team members are expected to take part in the live demo. Judges may direct questions to any team member.

❓ What if our system isn't fully working on demo day?

Marks will be awarded based on what works and effort. Show what works, explain challenges clearly — your Technical Communication and Presentation scores still count for 50%.

❓ Where is the awards ceremony?

SULT, Corrib Room from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. All teams and guests are welcome. Prior registration is required.

📧 Get in Touch

Module Coordinator
Dr. Waqar Shahid Qureshi
School of Computer Science  ·  University of Galway
waqarshahid.qureshi@universityofgalway.ie
Programme Coordinator
Dr. Colm O' Riordan
School of Computer Science  ·  University of Galway
colm.oriordan@universityofgalway.ie
Head of School
Dr. Enda Howley
School of Computer Science  ·  University of Galway
ehowley@universityofgalway.ie
Results

Winners & Awards

Presented at the Awards Ceremony — SULT, Corrib Room — 6:00 PM, March 18, 2026

Overall Winner
Shebang
CT101 Hackathon 2026 Champion — March 18, 2026

Old is Gold

Pocket Aces
Winner
HTK Studio
Runner-up 1
Lizards of the Roast
Runner-up 2

IoT is Bold

BikePi
Winner
Rubus Labs
Runner-up 1
De Biles
Runner-up 2
Participation

Event Registration

Registration for CT101 Hackathon 2026 is now closed.

Closed
Student Registration Closed
Registration for CT101 students has closed.
All team assignments were confirmed by your module coordinator.
If you have a query please email waqarshahid.qureshi@universityofgalway.ie.
Closed
Guest & Staff Registration Closed
Guest and staff attendance registration has closed.
For last-minute attendance queries please contact the organising team at waqarshahid.qureshi@universityofgalway.ie.
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