Problem Solving Hack-a-Thon Fall 2021

An RSC Member Event!

Be part of the solution!

Available VIRTUALLY starting November 1st, 2021

About our annual Hack-a-Thon:

The Regional Science Consortium’s 6th Annual Hack-a-Thon will be virtual again this year! This event was very successful last spring after being adapted to an all virtual format to accommodate challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic so we decided to work in a virtual format again. Students from RSC member schools will “hack” or solve a real world environmental issue while remaining socially distant in their classroom or home. This event provides students with hands-on learning and experience in science, technology, engineering, and math. Students also gain experience in communication skills and teamwork. The students are expected to complete their own research on the challenge topic using information provided by experts in the field of study. The students have only short time increments to complete their research, build a prototype, and present to a panel of judges. Each project usually turns out extremely well done and unique!

Contact Sarah@RegSciConsort.com to register!

2021 Challenge Materials

Teacher Resources

Expert Presentations

2021 Useful Challenge Links:

Introduction to Erosion

• Shrinking Shorelines: Climate change-related erosion threatens Great Lakes coasts – Great Lakes Now
• History and ecology of the Great Lakes | Wisconsin DNR
• Coastal Erosion of Southern Lake Michigan – USGS Fact Sheet
• USGS OFR 2009-1042: National Assessment of Historical Shoreline Change: A Pilot Study of Historical Coastal Bluff Retreat in the Great Lakes, Erie, Pennsylvania, Title Page
• Coastal Erosion (msu.edu)
• Living Shorelines – About Living Shorelines – Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (masgc.org)

Erosion Mitigation

• https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/coastal-flood-risk/coastal-erosion
• https://colonial-materials.com/2020/07/01/coastal-erosion-solutions/
• https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/67096.html
• http://www.beachapedia.org/Shoreline_Structures
• https://coast.noaa.gov/data/digitalcoast/pdf/living-shoreline.pdf

Shoreline Vegetation

• Vegetative Best Management Practices Manual (included in your kit)
• https://www.getconnectederie.org/agency/detail/?agency_id=22560
• https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CZIC-qk130-l35/html/CZIC-qk130-l35.htm
• http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/docs/community/great%20lakes%20sparsely%20vegetated%20shore.pdf
• https://waterlandlife.org/wildlife-pnhp/special-places-2/erie-coast/
• www.wildflower.org

Previous Challenges Revealed!

2017 CHALLENGE REVEALED: Microplastics & Marine Debris

2018 CHALLENGE REVEALED: Harmful Algal Blooms

2019 CHALLENGE REVEALED: Pollinators

2020 CHALLENGE REVEALED: Green Buildings

Spring 2021 CHALLENGE REVEALED: Constructed Wetlands

Previous Hack-a-Thon Participants!