On January 31, 2026, a diverse group of students, library staff, researchers, and community members convened at the University of Florida’s Marston Science Library for the Environmental Monitoring through Education, Research, and Geospatial Engagement (EMERGE) NASA Data Hackathon. This initiative aims to empower libraries, educators, and individuals to engage in public health and environmental science through the use of real-world data tools and citizen science.
Central to the EMERGE initiative is NASA’s Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Observer app. This application enables users with smartphones to collect and analyze data on various environmental factors, including mosquito habitats, land cover, and cloud formations. Throughout the day, participants engaged in workshops and collaborative sessions, transforming real environmental data into maps, dashboards, infographics, and actionable insights that support public health and environmental decision-making.
The event was organized by the Geospatial Digital Informatics Lab from the Geography Department at UF, in partnership with SciStarter, the world’s largest citizen science database, and Florida Community Innovation, a civic technology nonprofit. Participants had the unique opportunity to work with volunteer-collected datasets, illustrating how local observations can contribute to broader global research.
During the hackathon, 13 teams collaborated to create projects that either analyzed GLOBE data or reimagined data collection methods for the app. A digital textbook, developed by the GeoDI Lab, provided participants with guidance on how to download, process, visualize, and analyze GLOBE Observer data.
Celebrating Hackathon Achievements
The hackathon culminated in the recognition of several standout projects across various categories:
- APP IMPROVEMENT TRACK Winner: Mosquito Tracker
- ADVANCED TRACK Winner: Epidemiological Vector Mapping System
- INTERMEDIATE TRACK Winner: Swarm Sense
- BEGINNER TRACK Winner: Beginner Track EMERGE Project
- FIELD TRACK Winner: Field Track Data Collection for Mosquito Habitat
Getting Involved
Individuals interested in civic technology and community-centered research are encouraged to engage with Florida Community Innovation (FCI), one of the hackathon’s partners. FCI collaborates year-round with students and community members to develop accessible tools and public resources. Interested participants can join FCI by visiting floridainnovation.org and attending their Wednesday meetings at 6 p.m. EDT.
For those looking to contribute to future EMERGE events, there is an opportunity to join a planning committee to help shape the next hackathon. Organizers will receive a small honorarium for their contributions.
To start contributing to NASA science from your own neighborhood, download the GLOBE Observer app, which facilitates data collection on mosquito habitats and other environmental factors. The EMERGE program is supported by NASA through the Citizen Science Seed Funding Program, aimed at enhancing the integration of citizen science techniques in scientific research.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
