COVE and DeepSense are hosting the first in a series of Ocean Data Challenges. This free event will span two evenings and begins on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (6-7:30pm) with an introduction to the Challenge, presentations from experts, and the chance to ask questions to help idea exploration. The Challenge concludes one week later, on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 with presentations from participants to our panel of judges.

This challenge allows you to work at your own pace to explore ways to learn about ocean data, meet others with the same interests and bring together unique skills to create a team. This is a fantastic way to show off your design, programming or other talents. Not to mention more than $2,000 in prizes!

The challenge is broken down into three Challenge Streams: Under the Water, On the Water, and Around the Water. Individuals and teams will be asked to choose one stream and provide interdisciplinary ideas for helping understand the options of the Bedford Ferry. Each stream can be used to explore different types of data, for example: “Under the Water” can explore salinity, temperature, eDNA data, “On the Water” can include wind speed and wave height data or other vessels, and “Around the Water” can explore the movement of people and reduction in GHG emissions.

Challenge Stream #1 Theme: Under the Water

How do we know what impact a new ferry will have underwater? What impacts can we expect to anything living in the water? Are there measurements we need to consider now and in the future to ensure we have the right ferry?

Challenge Stream #2 Theme: On the Water

Your challenge is to explore the future Bedford Ferry. While the city is evaluating options today, provide evaluations and ideas for different solutions. What considerations should be made about the type and design of the ferry? How should it operate? What impacts will it have on other vessels using the Halifax Harbour?

Challenge Stream #3 Theme: Around the Water

What impacts will a new ferry have on the movement of people in the city? What considerations need to be made about building a new terminal close to the shore? What considerations need to be made to encourage the use of the ferry?

Who should participate?

The best ideas come from interdisciplinary teams, so we invite those studying Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Sustainability, Business, or any other programs! As long as participants are students who are registered full or part-time at an Atlantic Canada post-secondary educational institution. You can go solo, or work with a team of up to five people. All teams must be confirmed by 10 am on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Please ensure you read Official Rules below.

The Rules

• Competitors must own rights or have written permission from the owner for all ideas/designs/software demonstrated in the competition.
• Competitors can work solo or on teams or up to 5 members.
• Competitors are not allowed to submit projects containing confidential information.
• Required to use one source of data.
• Must be a current part-time or full-time student of or have graduated in the past 12 months from an academic institution in Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador)
• Data must be used as part of the submission (examples of open data will be available for idea generation).

Expected Outcome and Submissions

• All teams will be required to make a 3 to 5 minute presentation on Tuesday, November 9th.
• The presentation can be a diagram, a technology solution, an analysis of data, or something else, as long as it is a solution to one of the Challenge Stream questions outlined above
• All teams must provide a summary of their solution by 4 pm on Tuesday, November 9th to deepinfo@dal.ca
• Your tangible outcome or solution will vary based on your skill, background, area of expertise and team. It is expected you will have created a prototype of some kind that could range from a technology solution, a visualization, or an overall plan to address some of the questions outlined in the Challenge Streams.

Schedule (all times are in Atlantic Time)

• Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 6 – 7:30 pm: The challenge kicks off! Learn about the challenges that come with creating quick, safe, environmentally friendly, and affordable transit from experts. The session will be recorded and shared that evening with all those who were not able to attend.
• Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 10 am: Final teams must be identified and registered.
• Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 4pm: Team concept submissions must be emailed to deepinfo@dal.ca with “Challenge submission from *TEAM NAME*” in the subject line to be eligible for presentation.
• Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 6pm: Presentations and judging will begin at 6pm followed by award presentation! Each team will have a maximum of 3 or 5 minutes to present their idea. The final presentation duration will be confirmed on Thursday, November 4, 2021.

Speakers

On Tuesday, November 2, 2021 we will be hearing from:

• Sue Molloy, President of Glas Ocean Electric
• Shannon Miedema, Environment and Climate Change Program Manager, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Callahan Murphy, Project Manager – New Initiatives, Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship

Judging and Prizes

Projects will be judged on presentation, creativity and, of course, the prototype (ranges from a technology solution, a visualization, or an overall plan). Note there are separate prizes for top design and top technical design.

• First prize: $750
• Second prize: $500
• Top Design: $500
• Top Technical: $500

If you have any questions, feel free to email deepinfo@dal.ca.

We look forward to seeing you!