MIT – Latin America vs. COVID-19
— Agenda —
Friday, June 19
7:00 PM: Kickoff Meeting
8:30 PM: Team Formation
Saturday, June 20
More details coming soon!
Sunday, June 21
1:00 PM: Final Pitch Presentations
4 PM: Awards Ceremony
General Information
WHAT IS THE MIT COVID-19 CHALLENGE?
The MIT COVID-19 Challenge is a series of virtual hackathons. During these hackathons, multi-disciplinary teams will collaborate to develop innovative solutions that can help address the COVID-19 crisis. We are focused on connecting teams with the tools and resources needed to develop mature solutions that can be implemented by our partners. After each event in the Challenge, selected teams will have the opportunity to bring their solutions to life with the support of our partners.
WHAT IS LATIN AMERICA VS. COVID-19?
Latin America vs. COVID-19 is our next event under the MIT COVID-19 Challenge series, taking place June 19-21, 2020.
In this 48-hour virtual event, we will help tackle the most critical unmet needs that have arisen now that we are several months into the COVID-19 outbreak. Participants will form teams on Friday, June 19th to home in on key problems and generate solutions, including proof of concepts, prototypes, and preliminary vision for execution. Throughout the weekend, teams will connect with mentors to refine their solutions. On Sunday, June 21st, teams will reconvene to present their work before a panel of expert judges. After the weekend, the best ideas and teams will have the opportunity to co-develop and implement their solution with the support of our partners.
IN WHICH LANGUAGES WILL BE THE EVENT HELD?
English will be this event's primary language, however all sessions and materials will be made accessible in Spanish and Portuguese.
Event-wide presentations will be delivered in English with Spanish and Portuguese translator support.
Participant teams' final presentations will be delivered in English. Each team will be required to have at least one member who is fluent in English.
WHERE IS THE CHALLENGE TAKING PLACE?
This is a virtual event. Teams will work together throughout the two-day event using tools such as Zoom, Google Drive, and/or Slack.
WHEN WILL THE CHALLENGE TAKE PLACE?
The virtual challenge will take place from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21. More information about the schedule will be posted soon.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I NEED TO COMMIT?
The Challenge is a 48-hour sprint beginning on Friday afternoon (June 19) and ending on Sunday afternoon (June 21). Since the goal is to rapidly bring meaningful solutions to life, participants should expect to commit Friday evening, most of Saturday, and Sunday morning/early afternoon to the Challenge. Participants do not need to be available 24/7 for the duration of the event but should communicate their availability to team members.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE WEEKEND?
After the weekend, the best ideas and teams will have the opportunity to co-develop and implement their solution with the support of our partners.
WHAT DO WINNING TEAMS GET?
Winning teams will receive organizational support, computing resources, and direct access to key partners to further develop, validate and implement solutions developed.
WHO OWNS THE PRODUCT/SOLUTIONS TEAMS CREATE?
In an effort to expedite the development and implementation of solutions developed in this event, all products and solutions developed in this event will be open source. All products and solutions developed during this event will be subject to the terms below:
The following terms apply to participation in the Latin America vs. COVID-19 hackathon ("Hackathon"). Entrants may create original solutions, prototypes, datasets, scripts, or other content, materials, discoveries or inventions (a "Submission"). The Hackathon is organized by the MIT COVID19 Challenge: Latin America vs. COVID-19 Organizing Team.
Entrants retain ownership of all intellectual and industrial property rights (including moral rights) in and to Submissions.
As a condition of submission, Entrant grants the Hackathon Organizer, its subsidiaries, agents and partner companies, without restrictions, a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, publish, distribute, publicly perform, create a derivative work from, and publicly display the Submission.
Entrants provide Submissions on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties or conditions of TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Entrant represents and warrants that, to the best of his or her knowledge, any work product is Entrant’s own original work and is not within the intellectual property rights of any third party, including any former or current employers. If you are unsure, you should consult any former or current employment agreement to which you are a party. Under no circumstances will Hackathon Organizer be liable to you or any third party for any damages, direct or otherwise, arising out of use of this hackathon work product.
Participation
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
We are seeking a diverse group of participants. Participants ages 13+ of all experience levels, professional and academic backgrounds, and skill sets are welcome; what matters most is your commitment to making an impact and your willingness to collaborate.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE A TECHNICAL OR CLINICAL BACKGROUND TO PARTICIPATE?
No! Participants of all academic and professional backgrounds are welcome! Technical or medical experience is always helpful, but it is not required.
DO I HAVE TO BE AN MIT STUDENT OR MIT AFFILIATED TO PARTICIPATE?
No! Participants do not need to be affiliated with MIT, just need to be eager to participate! As above, technical or medical experience is always helpful, but it is not required.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Please complete the application form found here. Applications are due by June 16 at 11:59 PM ET.
If you are applying with a team, all team members must submit individual applications.
WHEN WILL I HEAR BACK ABOUT MY APPLICATION?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and our review team will try its best to respond to applications within a few days of receiving them. The latest you should hear back by is the afternoon on Thursday, June 18.
HOW ARE APPLICATIONS EVALUATED?
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring a diversity of skill sets and demographics are represented among participants. You will receive an email from the MIT COVID-19 Challenge team with an update regarding your acceptance.
HOW ARE TEAMS FORMED?
Participants will work together in teams of 5-7 members. We strongly encourage participants to apply individually, and form teams at the event - this event is not designed for pre-existing teams other than teams continuing from the previous Beat the Pandemic event. Teams will be formed by the participants themselves.
DO I NEED TO COME WITH AN IDEA?
The Challenge is focused on solving some of the most pressing problems that are resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Participants are encouraged to come with these problems in mind, but you don’t need to have an answer in hand. You’ll work with teams to develop solutions that will have a meaningful impact on the COVID-19 crisis.
WHAT TOOLS/RESOURCES WILL BE PROVIDED?
Teams will be connected with technical resources, data sets, developer platforms and experienced mentors throughout the weekend to help them create, iterate, build, and develop solutions as quickly as possible.
Support
HOW DO I BECOME A MENTOR?
Please complete the application form found here.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF MENTORS?
Mentors will work with teams based on their experience and expertise. Mentors do not need to be available for the entire weekend. Once mentors have been accepted, they will select one or more 3-hour shifts that best accommodate their schedule.
HOW DOES MY ORGANIZATION/COMPANY BECOME A PARTNER?
Thank you for your interest! Please email covid19latam@mit.edu. A member of the organizing team will contact you to determine how your organization’s expertise, resources, and reach can be most effectively utilized as a part of this effort.
Miscellaneous
WHAT IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED?
If you have additional questions or press inquiries, please email covid19latam@mit.edu.
