Skopje

NASA SPACE APPS CHALLENGE - Skopje, MKD 2020

What is the Space Apps Challenge?

Space Apps introduces problem-solvers worldwide to NASA’s free and open data. NASA missions to Earth, our Sun and solar system, and out into the universe – all gather data in pursuit of new knowledge, to expand our understanding through new scientific discoveries, and to help us to improve life on Earth. By using NASA data to solve each year’s challenges, Space Apps teams learn about NASA’s data, and share in the creation and application of the knowledge that results.

Space Apps inspires collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, fosters interest in Earth and space science and exploration, and encourages the growth and diversity of the next generation of scientists, technologists, designers and engineers. Space Apps is managed by the Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and the NASA Open Innovation Applied Sciences Program.

Since its inception in 2012, NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge has become the world’s largest global hackathon, engaging thousands of citizens across the globe to use NASA’s open data to build innovative solutions to challenges we face on Earth and in space. Space Apps inspires local communities to come together, think intensely, and create solutions to important problems.

Who can participate at the Space Apps Challenge?

Each year, Space Apps engages thousands of individuals in cities around the world to work with NASA’s open source data in a 48-hour sprint. Over 29,000 people from 71 countries and in 225 cities participated in the 2019 International Space Apps Challenge.

All are welcome in Space Apps. Teams of high-school/university students, start-up members, technologists, scientists, designers, entrepreneurs, artists, and others collaborate to answer some of the most pressing challenges on Earth and in space. The common thread among Space Apps participants is that you are interested in space science and exploration, you are creative, and you want to solve problems.

Space Apps builds connections. As a part of Space Apps, you are part of a global hackathon community that embraces collaboration across borders, sectors, and cultures to bring about paradigm-shifting innovation.

REGISTER NOW for the NASA Space Apps Challenge in SKOPJE, MKD 2-4 October 2020

The hackathon this year will take part as a All-Virtual Event from October 2nd (Friday) at 12:00, up until October 4th (Sunday) at 22:00. The teams can be composed of 3 to 6 team members and they will work on challenges provided by NASA that you can check here: https://2020.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/

If you haven't applied already please submit your application first here NASASpaceApps2020 Once all your team members are approved please create your team page at this website NASA Space Apps 2020 Skopje, MKD

Patron of the 2020 NASA Space Apps Challenge hackathon is our traditional partnerthe US Embassy in Skopje.

TEAM FORMATION & REMOTE WORK

You can apply as a team or individually. We encourage you to invite your friends along! Typical Space Apps teams have 2-6 participants (the limit is 6 members per team). Space Apps is all about collaboration and the most successful teams are often ones with a diverse set of skills and expertise -- coding, storytelling, creativity, data, science, engineering, technology, and more.

Due to the Covid19 pandemic we encourage all team members to work from the safety of their homes and to coordinate online unless you have a sibling who is also your team member. You can create your own team or request to join an existing team. To join an existing team, browse the teams on the Skopje location page or the challenge page of your choice.

MEET-UPS

We will host 2 meetings, on Tuesday (September 29) and on Thursday (October 1) to discuss challenges requirements and team formations.

SPACE FIRESIDE INSPIRATIONAL TALK

We are preparing special Space Fireside Inspirational Talk with a space scientist for the evening of October 2nd or 3rd (exact time will be announced soon).

2020 CHALLENGES

You can check more details about this year's challenges from which you can choose at https://2020.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/

They are organized in 6 categories:

1. Observe - Observation is critical to gathering the scientific and technical knowledge needed to take action. Space-based technologies, especially Earth-observing satellites, have given us a greater understanding of Earth and allowed us to probe into the depths of space. Challenges in this category will ask you to devise tools that make observation data more accessible for use by scientists, decision-makers, and the public.
2. Inform - To make good decisions, we all must be well informed. NASA, CSA, CNES, JAXA, and ESA not only gather space-based data, but they also compile archival data and share analysis and results with policy makers, scientists, and/or the broader community. This challenge category asks you to look at space agency data with fresh eyes. Come up with effective ways for engaging others about scientific and historical information.
3. Sustain - Advances in space exploration and Earth science have revealed the importance of building a sustainable future. What actions can we take to sustain our home planet, so that it is livable for future generations? And how can we sustain human life in the harsh conditions of space?
4. Create - Creation lies at the heart of change. Whether it’s artwork, hardware, or a new technology, challenges in this category will ask you to imagine, build, and create awareness.
5. Confront - From natural disasters to social and economic inequality, there comes a time when we must confront the problems we detect. Pick a challenge in this category to tackle a variety of issues at local, national, and/or global levels. How can technology serve as a tool for change?
6. Connect - Connection empowers us to take action together. Challenges in this category will ask you to examine methods for communicating with one another, and to analyze the complex networks of people and ideas that contribute to space agency missions on Earth and in space.

THE WINNING TEAM

A panel of judges will select 2 winning teams (1st and 2nd place), and the participating teams will select the 3rd winning team (public choice). All of these teams will be promoted for the competition on the global level and will be judged by a panel of NASA and other space experts.

All members of the 3 winning teams will receive our amazing NASA Space Apps trophies. Moreover, we are preparing special presents for the members of the 1st team (more info soon).

All participants will receive electronic Certificates.

We are wishing all of you a great success and lot of fun!

NASA KIDS SPACE CHALLENGE 2020

In addition to organizing the event for the older participants, for 5 years already NewMan's BA team is also organising a KIDS Space Challenge for kids and young teens.

This year kids will need to work in their homes by using paper, colors, and craft materials. Age appropriate for anyone between 4 and 14. You can work individually or in teams of 2 or 3. Due to the Covid19 pandemic, joint work in teams at a same location is encouraged only if you are siblings. Otherwise, please work individually or coordinate online with your team members.

NASA Kids Space Challenges for 2020 are:

1. One Universe for All - Think and draw or create how the people will live and work both on Earth and on a planet(s) of your choice and how this will improve the quality of our lives and the future of the mankind. Think how you can create more inclusive and more sustainable society and if kids with disabilities might have some "super powers" in space.
2. Build your own Spacecraft - Become NASA engineer and build a spacecraft of your choice. We will send you blueprints and kits, or you can use your own imagination.
3. Make a fun Planet Mask - Once you are done, take a photo of you with your mask and pretend to be your favorite planet in our Solar System. In this 'Corona time' make mask that is actually fun to wear. If you want to use it outside make sure that you put it on top of your protective mask.
4. Invent your own Art/Craft - If you have any Earth or Space related idea that you want to work on feel free to do so if your parent think you should do it. You can also get some inspiration from the challenges for the older participants at https://2020.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/

All participants will receive kits and further instructions over email. Everything that is created will need to be submitted at our Facebook page so your work will be promoted in front of the world.

The 3 best participants will be announced as winners and will receive Space trophies to show-off in front of their friends and family. All participants will also receive an electronic certificate.

HOW IT ALL STARTED IN OUR COUNTRY

Back in 2012 today’s CEO of the NewMan’s Business Accelerator - Irena Chaushevska traveled to one of the NASA centers in California, USA with a vision to bring this event in Skopje that at the time was taking place at around 40 locations worldwide. This became a reality just a year later and this year we are celebrating our 8th anniversary.

What we have done by now

• In 2014, the first year when the event took place in NewMan’s premises, we partnered with almost all student organisations in the country and managed to create the highest number of projects worldwide (30). Skopje was also acknowledged by NASA as one of the 10 cities with the highest number of participants (156).
• In 2015 and 2016 we spread the event across Macedonia and initiated hackathons at the University campuses in Tetovo, Ohrid and Bitola.
• In 2016 the project of the Skopje team AVIS (a smart wristband and an Android application for drone operators) became one of the 5 Global finalists for the People’s Choice award while the project of Team GG who created solar jump jet prototype concept won the 2nd place in Central and Eastern Europe.
• In 2017 Team DELTA was among the 5 GLOBAL FINALIST in the category “Best Use of Hardware”. Team SWIFT won Special Competition Award given to teams from countries with high engagement within the competition, attended 2 weeks Transfer of Knowledge in NASA Kennedy Space Center Florida, met local industry experts and came back to build a startup company in Renewable Energies, produce measurement devices and advise the Power Plants Macedonia (ESM) during the construction of National Photovoltaic Power Station.
• In 2018 NewMan's Business Accelerator helped team SWIFT to qualify among the finalists of the SpaceCom Entrepreneur Summit in Houston, Texas (USA) that took place during SpaceCom Expo.
• In 2019 NewMan's Business Accelerator hosted the first ever Space Tech Convention in the region of South-East Europe with 35 high-level speakers from USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Estonia, South Korea, Slovenia and others, including our Key Note Bruce Pittman - a Chief System Engineer at the NASA Ames Space Portal (More info at: https://newmansba.com/space-tech-convention/).

FROM MACEDONIA TO SPACE

European Coordinator

In 2015 NewMan's BA team also initiated and supported this hackathon in several cities in Central and Eastern Europe such as Vienna (Austria), Ljubljana and Koper (Slovenia), Zagreb (Croatia), Belgrade (Serbia), Prishtina (Kosovo), Tirana (Albania) and Cluj (Romania) for where our team recruited and trained the local Leads and provided ongoing support for their teams. This opened further possibilities for regional collaboration among participants and wider promotion for the sponsors.

Global Winner

In 2015 Irena Chaushevska was invited to attend the event Main stage for the NASA Space Apps Challenge that took place in New York where she joined the NY Space Tag team that worked with Big Data. The team managed to win the local event in New York and later was announced by NASA judging committee as one of the 5 global winners. As an award in December 2015, Irena and Anita traveled to Cape Canaveral in Florida to witness a space launch.

Silicon Valley Host

In 2016 NewMan's team applied to host the Silicon Valley location and despite all odds, it won. It partnered with SAP and IBM and within a couple of weeks organized one of the best hackathons that year.

In 2017 the Silicon Valley location managed by NewMan's team was selected by NASA as USA West Coast Mainstage for the event. In addition, NewMan's team organised a Space Conference at the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park during the 2017 NASA Space Apps edition in Silicon Valley.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND SPACE APPS MACEDONIA THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Some of the remarkable individuals that made all of this possible are Angela Stojanovska, Stefan Savevski, Filip Danilovski, Violeta Abadzieva, Vladislav Bidikov, Davor Popovski, Anita Kirkovska, Marko Paloski, Marina Tanevska, Simona Kostovska and many more.