Galactic Ground Zero: The Renaissance of Intelligence

📅 Date: October 4–5, 2025

📍 Location:
– Day 1 (Oct 4): Fully virtual (online)
– Day 2 (Oct 5): Saint Mary’s University, Loyola 171 (LA171), 923 Robie St, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3

✨ About the Event

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge — the largest annual global hackathon, engaging over 90,000 participants across 185+ countries — is returning to Halifax this fall.

This year’s theme: Galactic Ground Zero: The Renaissance of Intelligence

A cutting-edge, community-driven event where space science, open data, and the booming AI revolution collide.

Innovators from Atlantic Canada and beyond will gather to harness NASA’s open datasets to address some of the most urgent challenges facing Earth and space.

From planetary science and climate change to satellite tech and creative storytelling, this hackathon welcomes coders, designers, scientists, artists, students, and experts alike — with a challenge for every passion.

🌟 Why Halifax? Why Now?

Halifax is rapidly emerging as a vibrant hub of technology, innovation, and technological excellence, making it the ideal launchpad for this year’s event.

Galactic Ground Zero places Halifax at the forefront of the technological renaissance, inspiring collaborations that merge skill and open science to pioneer breakthroughs for society and space exploration.

This event is proudly led by Emran Billah, Local Lead, with the support of Digital Nova Scotia, the province’s premier technology sector organization.

🔍 What to Expect

• 💡 48 hours of immersive, hands-on innovation
  • Day 1 (October 4) will be fully virtual (online)
  • Day 2 (October 5) will be in-person at Saint Mary’s University
    • Final presentations will be due this day at in-person venue
• 🛰️ Access to NASA & global space agency data
• 🧑‍🏫 Challenges crafted by NASA’s top experts
• 🤝 Mentorship, community networking & collaboration
• 🏆 Prize opportunities & global recognition
• 🌍 Integration into NASA’s worldwide innovation network
• 🎓 AI-focused workshops & engaging demos
• 🎉 Celebration of creativity, curiosity & courage

🙋‍♀️ Who Can Join?

• Anyone with a passion to create — whether you’re 16 or 60, a student, entrepreneur, gamer, artist, engineer, or activist.
• No prior experience with space or AI is necessary.
• Just bring your curiosity, collaboration spirit, and imagination.

🌐 Global Reach, Local Impact

Joining over 450+ local events worldwide in 185+ countries and territories, NASA Space Apps Halifax 2025 connects Atlantic Canada to a thriving global ecosystem where local innovation shapes planetary solutions.

🚀 Register Today

Join 90,000+ innovators globally. Early registration is encouraged as spots are limited.

Select Halifax as your local event when signing up: spaceappschallenge.org

📞 Media & Press Contacts

For interviews, event visuals, press access, or speaker inquiries, please contact:

✉️ Emran Billah — emran.billah@gmail.com

NASA Space Apps Challenge is funded by NASA’s Earth Science Division and powered by Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse.