Code for Social Good
HackDavis is UC Davis' annual hackathon for students, run by students. Over the past few months, Angie Ni (computer science, ’21), a student ambassador for the College of Letters and Science, worked with the HackDavis team to organize the fifth annual event.
Held in January 2020, the UC Davis hackathon brought together more than 600 of the most talented students in California to develop apps that address the world's most pressing social issues.
UC Davis Shines in 'Public Good' Rankings
UC Davis was ranked second in the nation by Washington Monthly magazine for contributions to the “public good.”
One such app, InSeason, helps consumers make sustainable choices by highlighting in-season produce at the grocery store. This innovative technology was created by College of Letters and Science undergraduates majoring in cognitive science, design and statistics, and won the award for best interdisciplinary hack.
“Purchasing fruits and vegetables seasonally encourages an eco-friendly way of grocery shopping by reducing C02 emissions caused by transportation, supporting local farmers and businesses, and inspiring healthier eating habits,” the developers said in their submission.
Hackathons help students develop technological and entrepreneurial skills and gain hands-on experience with all steps of product development – from design to launch.
“This was the first hackathon for all of our team members, and overall a great experience,” the InSeason team said.
— Becky Oskin, content strategist in the College of Letters and Science