OceanX Education Hackathons
OceanX Education Hackathons bring together scientists, storytellers, educators, artists, and technologists to explore how immersive experiences can transform ocean science into empathy, understanding, and meaningful action.
Hosted aboard the OceanXplorer and on land, these hackathons are collaborative exploration spaces where interdisciplinary teams work with ocean science, real mission data, and creative technologies to imagine new ways of engaging people with the ocean. Together, participants experiment with narrative, interaction, sound, data, embodiment, and emerging tools to shape immersive storytelling approaches that spark ocean curiosity, open pathways into ocean careers, and nurture ocean changemakers across diverse audiences.
Each hackathon is grounded in scientific integrity, current research on immersive media impact, and OceanX Education’s commitment to public learning and engagement. Ideas may be poetic or technical, speculative or research-led — the emphasis is on exploration, insight, and shared discovery rather than polished outputs.
By working across disciplines and learning each other’s languages, participants help shape how ocean stories are told — creating experiences that not only help people understand the ocean but also care for it and feel empowered to act.
Hackathon participants are carefully curated by OceanX Education to form deliberately diverse, cross-disciplinary teams. Participants may include:
Creative Technologists
Immersive and interactive media designers, developers, digital artists, and sound designers working across games, XR, data-driven systems, and large-scale installations.
Storytellers and Science Communicators
Filmmakers, digital creators, and media professionals experienced in translating complex ideas into emotionally resonant narratives for broad audiences.
Ocean Scientists
Ocean scientists contribute domain expertise, helping ground creative exploration in marine science and Ocean Literacy principles. This role focuses on collaboration and content guidance and does not include science operations or formal mentorship.
Participants engage in shared learning sessions, hands-on creative exploration, rapid experimentation, and collective reflection. There is no competition and no expectation of finished deliverables — the value lies in the curiosity, collaboration, and the creative momentum generated together.
OceanX Education Hackathons are an invitation to:
Become part of a group of world-class scientists, storytellers, educators, artists, and technologists who are reimagining ocean education for the digital age
Explore how immersive media can cultivate curiosity, empathy, and a sense of agency
Help shape future immersive experiences, exhibitions, and education programs
Contribute to a growing ecosystem focused on ocean literacy, career pathways, and changemaking
If you want to help reimagine how ocean stories are told — and how people connect to the ocean — we invite you to apply.
