Girls in STEM: AI for Social Good Hackathon

Overview

This online event, titled Girls in STEM: AI for Social Good Hackathon, invites middle and high school students to design and build AI and technology projects that address real world community issues. Hosted through Devpost, the challenge emphasizes social impact, education, health, accessibility, safety, sustainability, and other areas where technology can make a difference. Participants can work individually or in teams to create a project such as a website, mobile app, game, AI tool, or prototype that demonstrates practical use and potential positive outcomes.

Goals and who should attend

The hackathon is specifically geared toward younger students in the girls in STEM community. It aims to encourage participation from beginners and experienced coders alike by offering a platform to learn, experiment, and contribute solutions to real problems. Eligible participants include students roughly aged 13 to 21 from any country, with some region-based eligibility rules noted in the event details. The event is public and online, making it accessible to a wide audience.

What to build and how to submit

Projects should focus on social good. Ideas include educational tools, health solutions, accessibility improvements, safety enhancements, or sustainability initiatives. Teams should submit a project name, team members, a concise project description, the problem addressed, how the solution works, a demo video, and a GitHub or project link if available. Submissions are evaluated on creativity, impact, technical quality, presentation, and overall value. The judging criteria emphasize several dimensions including originality, usefulness, and feasibility.

Timeline and scheduling

The event spans several weeks, culminating in a deadline for submissions. The stated start date is April 12, 2026, and the deadline for final submissions is May 14, 2026. A calendar integration is provided to help participants add the deadline and related milestones to their calendars for reminders. While a full public agenda or day-by-day schedule is not detailed on the page, the platform is designed to present a schedule and related events within the challenge details.

Prizes and recognition

Participants have the opportunity to win multiple prizes, including non-cash awards across several categories. Prizes recognize various strengths such as best beginner project, best social impact, greatest women’s impact, greatest creativity, and best AI project, among others. A collection of sponsor logos appears on the page, indicating potential support and sponsorship for winners. The event also highlights achievements and provides pathways to showcase projects in the Devpost portfolio and project galleries.

How to participate

Interested students should join the hackathon via the provided registration flow. The page notes eligibility requirements, including age, student status, and geographic considerations, and directs participants to the full rules for comprehensive participation guidelines. There are resources and guidance sections for planning and execution, as well as links to blogs, customer stories, guides, webinars, and help desks to support participants throughout the event.

Speakers, sponsors, and community

The event page references participating organizations and sponsors, with contact information for the hackathon manager. It also notes that the event is online, hosted by Devpost, and uses online platforms to coordinate registrations, project submissions, and judging. Overall, the hackathon provides an engaging entry point for young women interested in AI and technology to pursue meaningful, community-oriented projects in a collaborative, educational setting.