On June 25, the B.C. AquaHacking Challenge Virtual Grand Final was held. Organized in partnership with Aqua Forum and the OBWB, the virtual event was once again a great success.
After months of work, research and mentoring sessions, the five finalist teams presented their best solutions for addressing water issues in British Columbia. The judges and participants voted for their favourite solution, and then the winners were announced.
"We are very proud of the new cohort, which joins an already-impressive cohort of alumni. These young people are brilliant, and we are delighted to see that the solutions presented are constantly evolving in terms of complexity and quality. Once again, we would like to congratulate them on their wonderful work”, said Madame de Gaspé Beaubien.
Winners of the AquaHacking B.C. 2020 Challenge
1st place: Ozero, of the University of Sherbrooke (Québec), won the $20,000 grand prize in seed funding for its innovative solution to the problem of invasive mussels.
2nd place: UBC Okanagan's GAPSS (Gravity Assisted Particle Separation Systems) in Kelowna received $15,000 for its stormwater contamination solution.
3rd place: Above Atlantis, of UBC Vancouver and Simon Fraser University, received $10,000 in funding to address flood risks.
4th place: UBC Okanagan Elite, in Kelowna, received $2,500 to fight stormwater contamination.
5th place: UniteAG, of the University of Victoria and Queens University of Toronto, also received $2,500 for its idea for tackling stormwater contamination.
About Ozero
Ozero is the brainchild of a team of mechanical engineering graduates who are working to preserve the water quality of Québec's lakes. Olivier Liberge, Ozero's co-founder and communications director, said his team was working on a new ballast washing technique to combat invasive zebra mussels as part of their bachelor's degree when they learned of the AquaHacking Challenge in British Columbia.
"We chose the project because we care about lake issues in Québec and Canada. We know that water is a precious resource, and we want to work together to preserve it”, he said.
Concrete results
For Gaspé Beaubien's family, the end of the competition is always a highlight. For them, seeing their funding make a real impact in the search for innovative solutions and the training of these young hackers is incredible.
"For any donor, being able to see the results of their commitment is very motivating. Our family is very proud to support this initiative", Madame de Gaspé Beaubien said.
Upcoming AquaHacking Events
The AquaHacking B.C. Challenge is one of three programs in Canada this year. The next finals will be held in Atlantic Canada (September 18, 2020) and Winnipeg (October 14, 2020).
Watch the AquaHacking 100% virtual challenge grand final here: (https://bit.ly/3i4KL6g)