Zoohackathon
A three-day, two-night community event where technologists form teams to address wildlife trafficking problem statements.
Every day, over 100 elephants are killed in Africa alone. Wildlife trafficking, the illicit murder and sale of animals and animal parts, is a serious threat to many endangered species. To empower developers, designers, and technologists to help stop wildlife trafficking, I collaborated with the US State Department to conceive the first-ever Zoohackathon.
We developed a process wherein event participants formed teams to work on wildlife trafficking problem statements (and associated datasets) selected and edited from submissions by international non-governmental agencies. I organized and hosted three Zoohackathon events in San Diego with the help of 30 volunteers and 10 zoo staff. Each year, the Zoohackathon was also hosted at 5-10 international locations. One year, at the invitation of the US State Department, I traveled to New Delhi, India to serve as a mentor and judge. At the end of each event, local winners determined by a panel of expert judges went on to international competition.
Due to our strong community partners and technology networks, San Diego teams won the International Grand Prize two out of three years. After each event, I worked with select teams to fund and facilitate project development.
Zoohackathon participants work tirelessly to address wildlife trafficking problem statements.
Conscious Consumer is a plugin for Google Chrome that alerts users to harmful products and services as they browse.
The Safe Souvenirs project was funded by a joint grant from the US State Department and the Conservation Technology division of the San Diego Zoo. The project was made with the cooperation of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who furnished images of confiscated items to be included in the database for tourists to various destinations.
During the event, zoo staff and other experts were available for consultation.
Team WildTrack won the international grand prize for their work.
WildTrack is an anonymous, multilingual SMS service for the automated reporting of illicit snares and other trafficking-related sightings.
San Diego Zoohackathon Partners
Zoohackathon was created in collaboration with the US State Department.
Seattle airport customs often seizes illicit goods - the Safe Souvenirs website is targeted to tourists moving through this and other US airports.
Teams work on solutions over three days and two nights. Meals, expert mentorship, and special behind-the-scenes tours are included.