International Space App Challenge: PARTICIPATE!

International Space App Challenge: PARTICIPATE!

Isabella Caballero and Katie Steele

The International Space App Challenge is a challenge that many cities take part in, and this year its taking place right here in Huntsville.  It’s a challenge to see who has the best and most helpful app. It takes place on October 19th.
 
According to a WAFF News interview with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, “This is a challenge that’s made for Huntsville, Alabama.”
 
At the 2017 challenge, 98 people from the Huntsville Area participated, including the Local People’s Choice Winner, the Dougbugs.
 
An interview with the team members for the International Space App Challenge website expands on their idea for their app.“Our task was to design an application that provided its users with information needed to stay safe at the beach. Using data such as the UV index, cloud cover, and harmful algal blooms (HABs), we needed to make recommendations for when to go to the beach and when to avoid it.”
 
But how can Bob Jones Students participate? Anyone 13 years or older can take part in this challenge. Registration is open until the day of the competition. Yet not a lot of students have heard of this challenge.
 
According to a survey given to students and teachers at Bob Jones, only ten percent of the responses had heard of this challenge, and no one had participated.
 
A way we could spread the word about the challenge is talking about it on the announcements and giving some information about when and what it is.
 
According to Jessye Gaines, an engineering teacher at Bob Jones, and Jennifer Rountree, a computer science teacher, they have heard of the International Space Apps Challenge, but don’t know of any students that have participated.
 
Considering that this challenge is “made for Huntsville, Alabama,” there is not a lot of people at Bob Jones who know about it or have participated in the challenge. We need to start spreading word so people can be able to be in the challenge and maybe even win.