National College of Ireland will once again be hosting the NASA International Space Apps Challenge. After serving as the Dublin Mission Control Centre in 2023 and 2024, NCI is proud to have once again been chosen to host the world’s largest annual hackathon. This year’s Dublin event will take place on October 4th and 5th, 2025.
You can register directly with NASA Space Apps Dublin Mission Control here.
“Being Nasa’s Dublin Mission Control once again for this hackathon that welcomes participants from all ages and areas of study is extremely exciting. At National College of Ireland, we strive to change lives through education by consistently recognising the impact of lifelong learning. We look forward to being a hub for innovation, creativity, and teamwork once again in 2025. It will be wonderful to welcome this year’s participants to Mayor Square.” ~ Professor Paul Stynes, Dean of NCI’s School of Computing.
NASA International Space Apps Challenge returns to Ireland
Last year’s theme, “The Sun Touches Everything,” invited participants to tackle one of 21 Challenges using space data and information. The challenges allowed participants to explore a wide range of topics from astrobiology to space music, and the design of games for astronauts. The Space Apps Challenge is open to everyone, not just scientists, coders, and engineers. Participants work in teams, and the inclusivity of this hackathon allows for fantastic connections to be made and for a wide range of skills to be celebrated. It is often the non-technical skills that become the key to creating winning projects. In Dublin, the participants will be supported by mentors who will help them develop their projects to the highest standard.
This year’s theme is “LEARN, LAUNCH, LEAD!”
The 2025 theme highlights what we hope participants will do during the hackathon as this event will encourage them to learn more about the skills they need to pursue STEM in the future. Not a techie? Teams also require communicators, designers and entrepreneurs! This hackathon is an excellent event that is suited to all interests and skillsets, as all participants will learn how to apply their unique skills to real world challenges.
We hope that the creative, collaborative environment will give participants the confidence needed to speak up and be unafraid to launch their ideas. Their ideas, passion, creativity, and their projects may go on to transform NASA’s open data into actionable tools, as well as launching their own future career paths and further study areas.
Past participants have often spoken about how the skills they developed during the hackathon still serve them well years later in various fields. Alongside learning, building confidence, and connecting with peers and mentors, we hope that the participants will walk away from this year’s hackathon feeling proud that they are part of a broad team of researchers and students who are leading communities in driving innovation.
“The NASA Space Apps Challenge Dublin is proud to continue its collaboration with National College of Ireland. As our chosen hub for the third consecutive year, NCI stands out as an academic centre of excellence and creativity. NCI is home to a diverse group of students from Ireland and spanning internationally, highlighting an impressive international network of accomplished alumni. The College’s ethos is ‘changing lives through education,’ which is why NCI represents the perfect ecosystem to host Dublin participants in the largest annual global hackathon. The NASA Space Apps Challenge is an innovation playground for participants of all ages who are interested in exploring our planet and the universe through the creative use of science and technology. Everyone is welcome, and all skillsets are embraced and encouraged.” ~ Paola Vercesi, Dublin Local Lead, NASA International Space Apps Challenge.
Last year, over ninety-three thousand participants registered to take part in the 2024 Space Apps Challenge from over 163 countries and territories. At National College of Ireland, we look forward to once again opening our doors to welcome this year’s participants who will no doubt display their skills and ideas during the 2025 NASA International Space Apps Challenge.
At National College of Ireland, we are proud to be known as a hub for innovation, as we strive to create an inclusive, welcoming environment where ideas can spark and thrive. Events like this allow for a brilliant, inventive, and collaborative atmosphere to come alive on campus, so make sure you register to attend on October 4th and 5th, 2025, as this is an event you will not want to miss.
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