DS+X 2025 Logo

Innovate across disciplines this October at BU: AI, art, wellness, bioinformatics, and beyond. Team up, build fast, and turn big ideas into reality in just one weekend.

Where Data Science Meets Everything

DS+X stands for Data Science + X: where X is any domain, discipline, or challenge you want to explore.

The idea is simple: data science is powerful on its own, but when you combine it with something else, it becomes transformative. That "X" could be:

• DS + Art

• DS + Public Policy

• DS + Health

• DS + Climate

• DS + Finance

The "X" is whatever you're passionate about. It's your field, your cause, or your curiosity and DS+X is the framework to combine it with the tools of data science to solve real-world problems.

Whether you're a coder, a designer, a storyteller, or an activist, DS+X invites you to bring your unique expertise and merge it with the analytical power of data.

View the 2025 Event

The Shift: Hackathon 1.0 → Hackathon 2.0

Process over product • Ethics • Design • AI orchestration

Hackathon 1.0

Product-first mindset

Build the most impressive final product possible. Judging focused on the end result.

  • • Output at demo time matters most
  • • Depth of features over clarity of process
  • • Less emphasis on tools, data provenance, or ethics
Hackathon 2.0

Process + product

How you build matters: reasoning, tooling, ethics, and cross‑disciplinary thinking.

  • • Approach and decision rationale
  • • Creative AI leverage and orchestration
  • • Design intent, accessibility, and ethical safeguards
  • • Real‑world data sourcing and transparency
What we evaluate now
ApproachAI orchestrationDesign & UXEthics & safetyData provenanceCross‑disciplinary integration

Workshops for the age of AI

AI orchestration, prompt engineering, no‑code prototyping, ethical safeguards, and real‑world data sourcing — tools to innovate responsibly and effectively.

Four distinct pathways, countless possibilities for cross-disciplinary innovation

Tracks

Choose your path and dive deep into specialized areas of innovation. Each track offers unique challenges, mentorship, and prizes tailored to your interests.

AI/ML Track

HackBU (DS + AI)

Dive into data science, analytics, and AI innovation. Build intelligent solutions that transform how we understand and interact with data.

Focus Areas
Data science • Analytics • AI innovation

Why HackBU?

Remix BU data into campus upgrades—smarter dining, next-gen housing, passion projects that hit home. Pair GenAI copilots with Terrier-only datasets and ship something the whole university can feel.

Prize Pool
$5,000+
in prizes - check them out below
Creative Track

Art + Computing

Explore the intersection of creativity and technology. Build projects that push the boundaries of digital art and interactive experiences.

Focus Areas
Creative AI • Generative art • Physical computing
Beginner Track

First-Year / Beginner

Perfect for newcomers to hackathons. Get guided learning, mentorship, and build your first project in a supportive environment.

What You'll Get
Guided workshops • 1:1 mentoring • Starter toolkit
Open Track

DS + X Open Track

Bring your own passion and context. Cross-disciplinary innovation where data science meets your unique perspective and expertise.

Your X Could Be
Healthcare • Sports • Music • Finance • Education • Climate • Social justice

The X Factor

This track celebrates interdisciplinary thinking. Whether you're passionate about biology, economics, or social justice, data science can amplify your impact.

Revisit the original event listing

View the 2025 Event

Program

Two days of inspiring talks, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to push the boundaries of digital design.

9:00–10:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
• Light breakfast served
• Registration
10:00–10:45 AM
Opening Session (All Attendees)
• Welcome Presentation
10:45–11:30 AM
Team Formation & Track Immersion
• First Hacker Track: Onboarding & What Makes a Good Hack?
• Art Track: Introduction (Led by James Grady)
• HackBU Track: Problem Definition
• Open Track: Introduction
11:45 AM–1:30 PM
Workshops: Core Skills
• AI Ethics Workshop (Led by Seth Villegas)
• No‑Code AI Prototyping (Led by Asad Malik)
• API Crash Course (Led by Saad Naji)
• Art & GenAI (Led by Halim Lee)
• Intro to Figma (Led by Lingyi Kong)
1:30–2:30 PM
Lunch + Group Photo
• Catered Lunch
• Sponsor booths & demo tables
2:45–5:30 PM
Workshops: Deep Dives
• Art & Hardware Lab: RASTIC/BUILDS (Led by Ken Sebesta)
• VibeCoding with Replit (Led by Richard Kasperowski)
• AI + Sound: Generative Music & Audio Design (Led by Abby Gualda)
• Prompt Engineering 101 (Led by Roger Hunt)
6:00–8:00 PM
Free Build Time
• Begin hacking with your team
• Mentor Stations open (all tracks)
7:00–8:00 PM
Dinner
• Relaxed dinner with teammates & mentors
8:00–9:00 PM
Evening Session
• Overnight Guidelines & Event Reminders
• Night Activities Preview
8:00–10:00 AM
Breakfast & Submissions
• Breakfast
• Registration
11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Project Presentations
• Team Presentations
12:30–1:30 PM
Lunch & Judge Deliberations
• Lunch
• Judge Deliberations
1:30–2:00 PM
Mingling
• Networking & downtime
2:00–3:00 PM
Closing Ceremony
• Awards & Wrap‑Up

Workshops

Hands-on sessions with cutting-edge tools

Core Skills(11:45 AM–1:30 PM)
  • • AI Ethics Workshop (Led by Seth Villegas)
  • • No‑Code AI Prototyping (Led by Asad Malik)
  • • API Crash Course (Led by Saad Naji)
  • • Art & GenAI (Led by Halim Lee)
  • • Intro to Figma (Led by Lingyi Kong)
Deep Dives(2:45–5:30 PM)
  • • Art & Hardware Lab: RASTIC/BUILDS (Led by Ken Sebesta)
  • • VibeCoding with Replit (Led by Richard Kasperowski)
  • • AI + Sound: Generative Music & Audio Design (Led by Abby Gualda)
  • • Prompt Engineering 101 (Led by Roger Hunt)
→ Register Now

Networking

Connect with our community

→ DevPost

→ Discord

→ LinkedIn

→ Instagram

Sponsors

BU IS&T
SharkNinja
Figma
BU Libraries

Prizes

Celebrate the best builds across every track—from ambitious data-driven experiences to first-time hacker breakthroughs. Explore the categories and the rewards waiting for winning teams.

Prize Categories

Tracks and challenges that spotlight creativity, technical execution, and domain impact.

•Best Overall
•Best Tech Implementation
•HackBU
◦My Passion Project
◦IS&T Specific Challenges
◦AI Sandbox
•Technical Prototypes
•Utility Concepts
•Data Vulnerabilities
•ArtHack
◦Open Art Hack
◦Prompt Prize
•FirstHack
◦Best FirstHack 1
◦Best FirstHack 2
◦Best FirstHack 3

Prizes

Gear, gadgets, and experiences up for grabs for every track winner.

Portable Extender Monitor
Drone Camera
HackBU T-shirts
Portable Monitor
JBL Portable Speaker
Amazon Echo Show
Owala Water Bottle
Anker Power Banks
Wacom Graphic Tablet
Mini Project
Figma Gift Cards
Beats Solo Buds
RGB Keyboard
Ninja Blender
Ninja Food Processor
Ninja Creami
Ninja FrostVault Cooler
Ninja Juicer
Shark Upright Vacuum
Shark Cordless Vacuum
Shark Steam Mop
Shark Hair Dryer
Shark Robot Vacuum

FAQs

Everything you need to know about joining our hackathon. Have more questions? Reach out to our team.

Getting Started

No! This hackathon is open to all experience levels. We have a dedicated track for beginners and first-time hackers to help you get started. Non-technical students are also welcome and can join teams with skills like design, art, or other areas. Mentors and workshops will be available for every level.
Come solo or with friends! We'll have team formation activities at the event, and you can also join the Discord beforehand to connect with others looking for a team.
A hackathon is an event where students "hack" together creative solutions in 24-48 hours—like apps, chatbots, interactive dashboards, IoT devices, games, ML models, AI agents, or data science projects. There's no malicious hacking involved.
Teams can have up to 5 members. We'll provide team-matching activities to help everyone find a group.
Bring your laptop, charger, and headphones, plus personal items like a toothbrush, deodorant, pillow or blanket, or sleeping bag. The building can get cold at night, so warm layers or blankets are recommended.Water bottles and BU reusable containers for food are also recommended, as the CCDS building is zero-waste

Revisit DS+X 2025

View the Event Listing

Join Our Team

Help shape the future of data science innovation. We're looking for passionate professionals to guide and evaluate the next generation of builders.

Judging Role

Become a Judge

Evaluate innovative projects and help identify the most impactful solutions. Your expertise will guide teams toward building meaningful, ethical, and technically sound applications.

What You'll Do
  • • Evaluate project presentations
  • • Assess technical implementation
  • • Judge innovation and impact
  • • Provide constructive feedback
Time Commitment
Sunday, October 26
11:15 AM - 2:00 PM
~3 hours total
Apply to Judge
View Judge Instructions
Mentoring Role

Become a Mentor

Guide teams through their hackathon journey. Share your expertise, help troubleshoot challenges, and inspire the next generation of data scientists and innovators.

What You'll Do
  • • Provide technical guidance
  • • Help with project direction
  • • Share industry insights
  • • Support team collaboration
Time Commitment
Saturday & Sunday
Flexible 2-4 hour shifts
Choose your availability
Apply to Mentor
View Mentor Instructions

Why Join Our Team?

• Network with industry leaders and rising talent
• Inspire the next generation of innovators
• Discover cutting-edge projects and ideas
• Contribute to BU's data science community
• Gain insights into emerging technologies
• Build lasting professional relationships
Questions?
Contact us at hackbu@bu.edu