ZOOHACKATHON VIETNAM 2021

Competition about coding and innovation. An opportunity to gather all talented and enthusiastic students for great impact. Participants construct optimal solutions, helping to address wildlife trafficking and illegal trading issues as well as preserve endangered species in Vietnam.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

DEADLINE OCT 31, 2021

Why we need you?

TECHNOLOGY ISSUES CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY TECHNOLOGY

In Vietnam, wildlife cybercrime is increasing at an alarming rate on social networks such as Zalo, Facebook, Youtube, TikTok, and other online platforms. Due to the nature of the internet's ease of access and use through advertisements, sellers can use fake identities and anonymously conduct trading activities. Detecting wildlife cybercrime automatically still presents a significant challenge for both law-enforcing authorities as well as conservation organizations.

WILDLIFE NEEDS OUR PROTECTION

Many wildlife species are publicly advertised and traded, including endangered species that are protected by laws. Products in trade range from live animals such as loris, otters, pythons, snakes, iguanas, turtles to wildlife products prohibited from trade by the Penal Code such as bear bile, tiger fangs, ivory, rhino horns and pangolin scales. Without prompt actions, these species will disappear forever, and Vietnam will lose its inherent precious biodiversity.

Eligibility

DEADLINE OCT 31, 2021

October 15, 2021 Release of the application form

Applicants start filling out the forms with all required information.

October 31, 2021 Deadline for application

You can no longer apply or edit your information after this day.

November 09, 2021 Recruitment results announcement

The results of selected teams will be announced via Facebook Fanpages of CHANGE, WildAid Vietnam and Email.

November 11 – 12, 2021 Online training

Selected teams will participate in online training sessions and have a chance to meet experts in relevant fields.

November 13, 2021 Opening ceremony

Problem statement announcement; and Q&A with participants.

November 14, 2021 Coding session

Teams will discuss and come up with solutions, begin coding, and prepare for the presentation.

November 15, 2021 Last coding session and Final Round

Teams will continue coding and preparing for the presentation. After the first evaluation round, five better teams will be selected to present their applications and ideas. The Judges will give scores and announce the final result of three winning teams.

Experts

Marie C. Damour
Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. for U.S. Mission Vietnam
Speaker

Robert Greenan
Acting Consul General
U.S. Consulate General in HCMC
Judge

Nguyen Van Thai
Executive Director
Save Vietnam's Wildlife
Judge

Hong Hoang
Founder and Executive Director
CHANGE
Judge

Tran Tuan Anh
Academic Director
FPTU HCMC
Judge

Tu Ngo
General Partners - Touchstone Partners
Co-founder, Chairwoman - YOLA
Judge

Andy Herrmann
Information Systems Security Officer
U.S. Consulate General in HCMC
Mentor

Le Thi Trang
Country coordinator
LVDI International
Mentor

Tran Le Tra
Conservation Expert
Mentor

Nguyen Manh Ha
Director Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD)
Mentor

Nguyen Thanh Ngoc Han
Conservation Consultant
Mentor

Cody Robbie
Conservation Consultant
MarCom Manager at CHANGE
Mentor

Ngo Dang Ha An
Computer Science Lecturer
FPTU HCMC
Mentor

Than Thi Ngoc Van
Computer Science Lecturer
FPTU HCMC
Mentor

Doan Nguyen Thanh Hoa
Computer Science Lecturer
FPTU HCMC
Mentor

FAQs

WHAT IS ZOOHACKATHON?

You may have heard of the term “Hackathon”, which refers to a technology innovation competition where programmers and people with their skill sets collaborate to build a technological solution or product in a short period of time, between 25 to 72 hours. Zoohackathon is similar in concept, but the topic of the competition is more specific. Technological solutions that help solve wildlife trafficking problems are what Zoohackathon is looking for.

I HAVE NOT HAD A TEAM YET, CAN I STILL APPLY?

Those who have yet to form a team will be supported to find your teammates before the registration deadline (5 days). More detailed information will be updated via email, Facebook Fanpages of CHANGE, and WildAid Vietnam. Besides, you also can find your teammates in relevant groups or communities from your network.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CODE, CAN I APPLY?

You still can apply if you can find a suitable team. From our suggestion, a team should consist of multiple members with diverse skills and knowledge to support one another. To have the strongest team, the members in your team should have these skills: design, coding, confidence to present in English, knowledge about environment and wildlife issues.

WHERE WILL ZOOHACKATHON VIET NAM 2021 TAKE PLACE?

The competition will take place in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Based on the Covid situation, the schedule and whether the competition will be conducted online or offline are subject to change. According to the current schedule, participants will:

Participate in Online Training: 11-12/11/2021
Participate in Offline Competition: 13-15/11/2021

Ho Chi Minh City: FPT University, Block E2a-7, D1 Street, Saigon High-tech Park, Long Thanh My Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi: FPT University, Hoa Lac High-tech Park, Km29 Thang Long Highway, Thach That District, Ha Noi.

DO I HAVE TO PAY REGISTRATION FEE?

Registration for the competition is completely free. When you attend the in-person competition, you need to pay for your travel expenses and prepare your own laptop or personal computer. During the Coding sessions on 14-15 November, the Organizing Committee will provide snacks, lunch, and dinner for free at the venue.

WHICH LANGUAGE(S) WILL BE USED IN THE COMPETITION?

During team working sessions, workshops or discussions, teams can use Vietnamese. However, teams must prepare and present their products in English.

CAN FOREIGN STUDENTS APPLY?

Foreign students can participate in the competition. However, you must study or live in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi at the time of the competition.

I DO NOT HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WILDLIFE, CAN I APPLY?

If your team is selected, the Organizing Committee will set up a training session to enhance your knowledge about the current challenges in illegal wildlife trade that organizations and agencies are facing in Vietnam. Furthermore, there will always be support from conservation experts to answer your questions prior to the competition.