Buffalo State to Host Civic Innovation Jam March 9
As part of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown’s second annual Civic Innovation Challenge, Buffalo State College will host a Civic Innovation Jam on Saturday, March 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center.
The Civic Innovation Eco Challenge – Powered by AT&T is designed to encourage developers, designers, and creators to innovate around the theme of green and clean technology. The city is seeking entries that can have a positive environmental impact on recycling, waste reduction or diversion, energy usage, water quality or usage, emissions, transportation, sustainability, or a related field.
“Through my Civic Innovation Eco Challenge, we are seeking technology-based solutions or apps that will increase resident engagement in our curbside recycling program, and other sustainability efforts. It is also a continuation of my administration’s efforts to create a tech-smart Buffalo,” Brown said. “The challenge also offers $12,000 in prize money, with $7,000 going to the grand prize winner, in addition to the pride of creating a working app or technical solution which will aid our continuing work toward a ‘greener’ Buffalo.”
The Jam on March 9 will provide a community engagement opportunity for those with advanced technical skills and those passionate about recycling and other sustainability initiatives to come together to brainstorm potential solutions. Mayor Brown will kick off the Jam with opening remarks, followed by a keynote address by Derrick Parson, founder of GRASPIE, a mobile-first learning and engagement platform for the millennial workforce.
The top three competitors will win $7,000, $2,000 and $1,000 cash prizes, respectively. Two new prize categories have been added for this year’s challenge, “Best Use of information from Open Data Buffalo” and “Best Use of the Esri Toolbox.” Winners of those categories will each be awarded $1,000 cash prizes.
Jacquelyn Malcolm, chief information officer and vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communication at Buffalo State, will serve as one of seven judges for the competition. Other judges on the panel include Amy Kramer, New York president, AT&T; Luis E. Taveras, CIO, City of Buffalo; Cletis Earle, CIO, Kaleida Health; Josep Jornet, associate professor of electrical engineering, University at Buffalo; Justin Booth, executive director, GObike Buffalo: and Gerard Aiken, local government manager, Esri.
The Civic Innovation Eco Challenge will run through April 22, 2019. Following the judges’ review and winner selection, an awards ceremony will be held on May 9, 2019.
Full information on the challenge and registration forms are available at buffaloinnovates.com. Open Data Buffalo can be accessed at data.buffalony.gov/.