about this event
Must fill out registration form to participate.
Teams are randomly assigned on Day 1 of the event.
About the challenge
This 3-day hacking event challenges participants to create and to innovate solutions to local and global issues. While this year's participant team tracks are AI & Humanity, Aging & Labor, Children & Social Media and Parenting, all finished products in this team competition must embody at least 3 of these 7 Humanity 101 principles: kindness, compassion, integrity, respect, empathy, forgiveness, and self-reflection.
This unique annual event draws some 150-300 participants–students, faculty, staff, professionals, and community members.
WHERE? This year's event is IN-PERSON at @ The Memorial Union
301 E Orange St., Tempe, AZ 85281
WHEN? 9, 10, 11 October 2026 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
EXPECT: prizes, games, networking, community-building, FUN!
Check out our website at https://www.hacksforhumanity.io/
What is Hacks for Humanity, and what makes it unique?
Unlike many such hacking events, Hacks for Humanity invites participants from a wide skillset, even those who have no previous "hacking" experience. We welcome artists, coders, app makers, designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, humanists, creatives, and generalists; indeed everyone in between from high school to professional retirement.
Hosted by Project Humanities at Arizona State University, Hacks for Humanity–a 3-day competitive online hacking event for the social good–is different in these ways:
- Targets not just coders but rather to coders, non-coders and everyone in between.
- Involves both communities inside and beyond Arizona State University and brings together individuals across professions, disciplines, generations, and around the globe.
- Innovates products that connect with or embody at least 3 of these 7 principles Project Humanities deems Humanity 101: compassion, empathy, respect, integrity, forgiveness, self-reflection and kindness.
- Features 3 thematic tracks under the umbrella of Humanity 101. This year the three tracks are AI & Humanity, Aging & Labor, Children & Social Media and Parenting.
How does Hacks for Humanity work logistically?
- Individuals register online as a participant, volunteer, or mentor, and self-identify with one of the designated expertise areas (business, design, humanist, engineering, generalist, etc.).
- On the evening of the event commencement, atendees will form their teams during the mandatory opening plenary in Scottsdale, Arizona
- Participants will be randomly assigned to a team based on a diverse set of expertise areas. Teams consist of 5-7 members. No pre-assembled teams allowed. A goal of this hacking event is to get people to work across the lines of the everyday and the familiar. In other words, we want teams to mix and match rather than teams of all graduate students, all undergraduates, all community members, all males, all from a single school, etc.
- When teams are formed, the hacking begins with guidelines and milestones provided by the event coordinators.
- All team members must be an active team member throughout the event in order to be eligible to receive prizes.
- Teams are required to attend event plenaries and must send at least one team member to attend each workshop.
- The hacking event ends with each team pitching its product and judges determining the top teams for awards and prizes.
tracks
AI & Humanity
Track focused on AI solutions for humanity
Aging & Labor
Track focused on aging and labor solutions
Children & Social Media
Track focused on children and social media solutions
Parenting
Track focused on parenting solutions
schedule
Hacks for Humanity
Opening plenary and team formation, hacking begins
◍ ASU Memorial Union, Ventana BallroomHacks for Humanity
Hacking continues with workshops and checkpoints
◍ ASU Memorial Union, Ventana BallroomHacks for Humanity
Final pitching and judging for awards and prizes
◍ ASU Memorial Union, Ventana Ballroom