Fifth NASA Space Apps Challenge Bangladesh ended with a grand prize giving ceremony at Muktijoddha Hall, IDEB, Kakrail, Dhaka.
NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019 was organized by BASIS, supported by BASIS Student’s Forum. This year 4000 participants submitted their project. Out of them, top 45 teams were selected for the Hack-a-Thon. Top 45 teams have fought in 36 hours long Hack-a-Thon on Oct 19-20.
The partners of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019, Bangladesh are - Skill Development for Mobile Game & Application Project under ICT Division, Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh. (IDEB). The gold sponsor of this event is Evaly and internet partner Aamra Networks Limited.
After 36 hours Hack-a-Thon, the prize giving ceremony took place on Sunday (Oct 20) night. ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, graced the occasion as chief guest. Azadul Haq, CEO, Max Group, was present as guest of honor, and Dr. Hasan Jamil, Associate Professor, Machine Learning and Integrated Computer Systems, University of Idaho was present as guest speaker.
BASIS Senior Vice-President Farhana A Rahman, NASA Space Apps Challenge Convener & BASIS Director Didarul Alam, NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019’s organizing committee Chairman Iqbal Mahmood, Adviser Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman, Skill Development for Mobile Game & Application Project Director Abdul Hai PAA, Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) President A K M A Hamid, Evaly’s CEO, Mohammad Rassel and Aamra Networks Limited Managing Director Syed Farhad Ahmed were also present.
At the opening speech of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019 Bangladesh, convener Didarul Alam said, this year we have sorted out top 45 projects from more than 4000 projects. It’s been a great honor for us that, last year “Team Olik” from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Bangladesh became the World Champion at Best Use of Data Category. This year Team Olik has been invited again at NASA Global Champion’s Ceremony. This year the best projects will acquire the chance to compete at the international phase.
BASIS Senior Vice-President Farhana A Rahman said, NASA Space Apps Challenge is an international mass collaboration focused on space exploration that takes place over 36-hours in 250 cities around the world. Its main goal is to find out the innovative solution to solve the world's global problems by ensuring the participation of everyone including technologists, scientists, designers, artists, educators, entrepreneurs etc.
Adviser of NASA Space Apps Challenge Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman said, "This year NASA has announced five challenge categories comprising 21 sub categories. Besides space, our young and talented scientists will work on the categories like weather, moon, planets near and far and many more. Bangladesh is constantly making progress for the past five years, we are hopeful that Bangladesh’s flag will be uploaded much higher this year."
At the ceremony ICT State Minister said, "Through the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019 BASIS has created a wonderful platform to showcase the talents of our youngster’s. Last year we became Global Champion in one of the categories. We are hopeful to do better this year."
This year this year, NASA has organized this event in 273 cities globally. Nine cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal and Cumilla) have participated in this Global Hack-a-Thon.
This year approximately 1 core students virtually and approximately 2,00,000 students took part physically in this event.
