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Chi Hack Night: CTO @ Shedd Aquarium (In Person & Online):

CHChi Hack Night
view event ↗
when20 Oct 2026
wherei.c.stars
priceFree
formatHybrid
organiserChi Hack Night

about this event

A free event in Chicago to build, share and learn about civic tech, with a presentation from Shedd Aquarium. Join us for our monthly in-person Chi Hack Night! We will be at a new location: i.c.stars, a non-profit tech training & placement program.

Chi Hack Night is a group of thousands of designers, academic researchers, data journalists, activists, policy wonks, web developers and curious citizens who want to make our city more just, equitable, transparent and delightful to live in through data, design and technology.

Speaker: Danielle DuMerer, Vice President of Technology & Information Security, Shedd Aquarium (she/her)

Presentation: Building for the future and honoring the past: Integrating technology into Shedd Aquarium's Centennial Commitment and Experience Evolution

Shedd Aquarium will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2030. Ahead of that milestone, Shedd launched its Centennial Commitment to accelerate access and connection to nature for all and amplify ways to care, conserve and act to ensure an equitable, sustainable and thriving future for people and aquatic life. Danielle DuMerer will share how technology is helping to modernize the guest experience and support expanded programs, digital engagement, and aquatic conservation locally and globally. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the complexity of working within a historic building, the unique challenges an aquarium presents, and the solutions that continue to evolve as the Shedd completes construction and prepares for its centennial anniversary.

What happens at a hack night? Every week, we have a 45 minute presentation by a government agency, non-profit, company or group who've made use of open data or built a civic technology application. The goal of these presentations is to showcase the different uses and opportunities, as well as challenges and successes in the civic technology movement. After the presentation, the format of the event is similar to that of a hackathon where breakout groups self-organize to work on civic apps, discuss policies and their implications, learn technical skills and network with a welcoming and diverse community at the intersection of technology and government.

But I'm not a techie! That's ok! We encourage non-technical folks to pair up and learn from our community's designers and developers. We've seen time and time again, the best civic projects come from teams with a diverse background. Remember, there's much more to making a great app than just coding.

ASL interpreting available: If you have need for an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter, let us know when you register for the event and we will provide one, provided enough lead time.

when

Tuesday, October 20, 202618:00 - 21:00 CDT

Chi Hack Night: CTO @ Shedd Aquarium

Snacking and socializing from 6:00 PM, welcome, house rules & three-word introductions at 6:30 PM, presentation at 6:50 PM, followed by breakout groups.

◍ i.c.stars, 750 North Orleans Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60654
Tuesday, October 20, 202618:50 CDT

Presentation: Building for the future and honoring the past

Danielle DuMerer, Vice President of Technology & Information Security at Shedd Aquarium, on integrating technology into Shedd's Centennial Commitment and Experience Evolution.

◍ i.c.stars, 750 North Orleans Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60654

tickets

Ticket types, prices and availability for Chi Hack Night: CTO @ Shedd Aquarium (In Person & Online):
ticketspriceFeeStatusdescription
Free RegistrationFreeTBAAvailableFree admission to the in-person event and livestream. Register for the event; no refunds.

faq

I won't be able to make it in person. Will the event be live streamed?+
Yes. The event will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/chihacknight/live
Will there be food?+
Yes! We will be serving Costa Rican empanadas, chicken casado and rice from Irazu!
But I'm not a techie!+
That's ok! We encourage non-technical folks to pair up and learn from our community's designers and developers. The best civic projects come from teams with a diverse background — there's much more to making a great app than just coding.
Is ASL interpreting available?+
If you need an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter, let us know when you register for the event and we will provide one, provided enough lead time.
Chi Hack Night: CTO @ Shedd Aquarium (In Person & Online):20 Oct 2026 · i.c.stars
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