There\u2019s hardly any aspect of life that isn\u2019t feeling the emerging impact of artificial intelligence. AI.<\/p>\n
How we work and learn.<\/p>\n
How we interact with and understand the world.<\/p>\n
Creativity. Education. Medicine. Criminal justice. Fact and fiction.<\/p>\n
The impact of AI is now unavoidable.<\/p>\n
But AI\u2019s emergence is also an opportunity, says Aaron Rosman, 16 (CAHNR) \u201921 MBA, program manager for the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation<\/a> at UConn, for students to feel empowered.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a firm believer that things aren\u2019t out of our hands regarding AI\u2019s \u2013 and our \u2013 future,\u201d says Rosman. \u201cI believe everyone has a voice in this conversation. How we use AI and how we live with AI is up to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Undergraduate students interested in taking on the challenge to help shape the future of AI are invited to participate in HackUConn 2026 \u2013 a hackathon event aimed at bringing together young innovators and industry experts for a non-stop, fast-paced innovation and invention competition.<\/p>\n A hackathon is a chance for creative thinkers, problem solvers, and anyone eager to make a difference to come together for the greater good. Students of all majors and backgrounds are invited to collaborate and innovate solutions to real-world challenges, whether you\u2019re into design, business, marketing, engineering, or simply passionate about creating positive change.<\/p>\n \u201cStudents do not need to be highly technical, have prior experience, or be a specific major to participate,\u201d says Daris Pon Mohan Kumar \u201927 (ENG), the tech team co-lead and logistics team lead for this year\u2019s event. \u201cHackUConn focuses on being creative and proposing ideas rather than just engineering or coding. Projects can range from conceptual prototypes and business ideas to fully programmed applications depending on the students’ interest. HackUConn is a great place for both beginners and experienced students to network, collaborate, and learn!\u201d<\/p>\n Led by a dedicated team of student organizers, HackUConn 2026 will focus on the AI \u201celephant in the room,\u201d notes Rosman.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we started discussing where we wanted HackUConn 2026 to go, all roads led to AI,\u201d Rosman says. \u201cEveryone came with ideas that started somewhere else but had a red line to AI. \u2018How is the landscape of education being impacted by emerging technologies?\u2019 \u2018How is the job market looking as I plan to graduate from UConn this May?\u2019 \u2018I feel as though I am creative, but what creativity means right now is changing.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n First launched in 2016 as a way to help contribute to the University\u2019s now thriving and collaborative entrepreneurial culture, HackUConn is the University\u2019s flagship hackathon and an annual tradition \u2013 supported by the Werth Institute \u2013 that offers an opportunity for students to step outside of their comfort zone and gather ideas, attend workshops, gain insight from mentors, and compete for prizes during the 20-hour in-person event.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is something students would want to do because it gives them the unique opportunity to work with professionals in their preferred industries and get their feedback regarding their prototypes and what can be improved,\u201d explains Preethika Rao \u201927 (BUS), the student planning team lead. \u201cFrom this, they not only get to learn more about their industry, but they also get the chance to form long-lasting bonds with some incredible advisors that can help them thrive in their future careers.\u201d<\/p>\n This year\u2019s HackUConn will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27 (with check-in starting at 4:00 p.m.), and will run until noon on Saturday, February 28, at the Peter J. Werth Residence Tower on the UConn Storrs campus.<\/p>\n Students are encouraged to register through Nexus<\/a> by Friday, February 20. Students can register individually and then join a team at the event, or have the option of building a team before the event and registering together, though teams cannot bring in prior work \u2013 hacking can only be done during the event\u2019s announced hacking period.<\/p>\n Over the course of the hackathon\u2019s 20 consecutive hours, student teams will brainstorm, prototype, and pitch their solutions to a panel of judges, who then select the winning ideas.<\/p>\n And solutions, the organizers note, can come in a variety of forms \u2013 from architecture to apps and software, devices and prototypes, policy and research proposals, the only limit is student creativity.<\/p>\n Some previous HackUConn winners have gone on to pitch their ideas to UConn\u2019s\u00a0Get Seeded<\/a>, which gives students opportunities to earn seed funding and mentorship through the\u00a0Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Education, or CCEI<\/a>, to help launch an entrepreneurial idea.<\/p>\n \u201cHackUConn is an opportunity to explore the ideas that we often find no way to present to the world \u2013 the same ideas we discuss amongst others when we are discussing a problem or concern we have with the world that we live in or the difficulties that we face,\u201d says Christopher Sindoni \u201926 (BUS), the event materials student lead for HackUConn 2026. \u201cIn exploring these ideas and potential solutions, students have a chance to really evaluate the impact they may be able to make and learn about the resources provided to them to make it possible.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n