Bhubaneswar: The four-day “Hack to the Future 3.0 – Odisha Edition” programme concluded at Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar on Friday, with students from government secondary schools across Odisha showcasing innovative technology-based solutions focused on social and environmental challenges.
Organised jointly by Quest Alliance, Panchasakha Shiksha Setu Sangathan and IIT Bhubaneswar under the theme “Shaping Futures, Young People Solving, Learning and Exploring Emerging Technologies”, the hackathon brought together 64 students selected through the Skill Curriculum under the Aspirational Curriculum initiative focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking.
During the programme, students underwent hands-on training in digital innovation, problem-solving, research, mentoring and project development. On the second day, participants used the “5 Why” Root Cause Analysis method to identify key challenges and design practical solutions. Sessions on Artificial Intelligence, data analysis and case studies were also conducted.
The hackathon featured projects based on themes including environmental protection, child safety and social awareness.
One of the major attractions was “UDAAN”, a mobile application developed by three Class 10 students from Ganjam district — Aarti Pradhan, Sweet Pradhan and Rudra Pratap Sahu — aimed at preventing child marriage and empowering adolescent girls.
The app includes six sections covering awareness, parental guidance, government schemes for girl children, legal rights, help and support, and success stories. Its Help and Support feature provides contact details of NGOs and government helplines to enable quick intervention and assistance for girls facing child marriage-related threats.
Another notable project, “Forest Fire Detection”, was developed by three Class 10 students from Kalahandi district — Sonia Bag, Swati Bachha and Mamashree Sahu. The project uses a website and mobile application to detect potential forest fire zones in advance and send instant WhatsApp alerts to concerned authorities and individuals.
The students said the system was designed keeping in mind forested regions such as Kalahandi and aims to help protect forests, wildlife and the environment through early warning mechanisms.
Speaking at the valedictory ceremony, Director of Higher Secondary Education Niyati Pattnaik, Joint Director of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan Mousumi Sahu, Gajapati District Education Officer Dr. Mayadhar Sahu, Cuttack District Education Officer Nityananda Barik and PSSAS Officer Tapas Kumar Bisoi described the hackathon as an important platform for nurturing future-ready skills among students.
Quest Alliance State Head of School Programmes Yubheka Singh was also present during the concluding session.