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NIU to host Huskie Hack focusing on food systems sustainability

September 28, 2022

NIU will host a non-traditional hackathon for college students on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6, with a focus on food systems sustainability.

The 24-hour Huskie Hack challenges teams of students to use their multidisciplinary skills to create solutions to pressing sustainability problems worldwide.

Students of all skill levels are welcome to participate in the event, which will be held at the Holmes Student Center. There is no charge for hackathon entry, and participants will be provided with meals, drinks, snacks, swag, mentorship and relaxation time in the Huskie Den. The NIU Office of Innovation and DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association are co-hosting the event.

“We’re hoping to draw 200 to 300 college students from across the Midwest who are passionate about sustainability, who care about the future of food resources and who desire to make positive change in their world,” said Bryan Flower, Office of Innovation assistant director of food systems innovation.

Participants will choose to solve challenges related to food waste, regionalization of food systems or human diversity in agriculture. Industry professionals will be on hand to mentor students, and prizes will be awarded to winning teams.

“Hackathons are usually coding events, but this is more of a societal solutions-based event,” Flower said. “It’s more about getting teams together, choosing one challenge and spending 24 hours working toward a solution to the problem.”

NIU is about to embark on significant journey with the building of its Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability. The center’s three main pillars of research—water resource management, climate adaptation and food systems innovation—all weave themselves into the hackathon’s focus.

“As part of NIU’s vison and mission, we serve society and confront local, national and global challenges through collaborations that improve our learning, teaching and research,” said Karinne Bredberg, NIU’s director of innovation. “What better way to move the university forward than to highlight our commitment to this mission by helping build a platform where students can collaborate on solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time. This event has the ability to showcase NIU in its pursuit of a better world for all.”

The hackathon will feature a welcome from NIU President Dr. Lisa C. Freeman and presentations by Winnow CEO and Co-founder Marc Zornes; Local Foods COO and Co-founder Dave Rand; Jeneen Fields, an assistant professor of botany and plant pathology at Purdue University; and Riana Lynn, CEO of Journey Foods.

Lynn—a leader in food innovation, technology and venture strategy—will deliver the keynote address. As a scientist and serial entrepreneur, she has developed high-growth, nationally recognized technology and food businesses. After first-hand experience working through problems and scaling a family juice company, she was inspired to unlock valuable supply chain data and create the software company FoodTrace. Her products have significantly impacted thousands of businesses and government bodies across the country and beyond.

“Students will be able to use this experience to help build their own portfolios or resumes and to network with companies who work in sustainability and food systems,” Flower said. “It’s also a great opportunity for companies to make connections with their future workforce.”

Event details and registration information are available at the Huskie Hack website.