SpaceHACK for Sustainability advances global collaboration

Vishal Lakshmi Narayanan has participated in many hackathons. In just the past year, the graduate student in data science, analytics and engineering at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering has attended over 10 and received recognition in six. 

Most recently, he and fellow ASU students Vishva Doshi and Christina Roby competed in the 2026 SpaceHACK for Sustainability. Their team earned first place internationally in the track “Climate Change and the Alpine Information Battle,” which addressed the challenges of climate misinformation and communication in Alpine regions. 

“My motive was to learn about how technologies can be used to make sustainable measures and decisions. I was curious about how satellite data can be used to find patterns or trends over time. I get to learn a lot of new things from these events,” Narayanan said.  

SpaceHACK for Sustainability is an annual two-day hackathon led by the ASU Library Unit for Data Science and Analytics. Held March 27 and 28 at Hayden Library in Tempe and online, the event brought together participants to address global sustainability challenges using satellite data. Originally established by the ASU Interplanetary Initiative, the event is grounded in the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals and provides a hands-on learning experience for students to collaborate on well-defined, research-aligned challenges. 

More than 500 registrations and 66 teams joined from around the globe, including Ecuador, France, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Indonesia, Ghana, Spain and India.

“This year’s participants demonstrated strong creativity, technical skill and a clear commitment to impact,” said Kerri Rittschof, director of the Unit for Data Science and Analytics. “In about 26 hours, teams worked intensively to develop solution ideas addressing complex sustainability challenges. It is inspiring to see this level of innovation and dedication, and it reinforces that we are in good hands with the next generation of problem solvers.”

Narayanan’s teammate Doshi, a master’s student in information technology at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, echoed the learning aspects of the event.

“During the hackathon, I learned a lot about working with multi-source satellite data such as Sentinel-2 and MODIS, and how to translate raw geospatial data into meaningful insights,” Doshi said. “More importantly, I learned how to collaborate effectively under tight time constraints and make quick, data-driven decisions as a team. This experience strengthened my interest in working at the intersection of data, climate systems and real-world problem-solving.”

The event’s key sponsor — the Center for Responsible Supply Chain Management, part of the NASPO Department of Supply Chain Management within the W. P. Carey School of Business — challenged students to solve sustainable logistics.

Sonali Bhalla, a sophomore studying supply chain management and business data analytics in the W.P. Carey School of Business, was part of the second-place team in the “Innovating the Net-Zero Supply Chain” track, which focused on developing sustainable, data-driven supply chain solutions to reduce emissions and increase resilience.

“I was motivated to participate in SpaceHACK because it directly aligned with my two majors,” Bhalla said. “It also allowed me to apply the supply chain knowledge that I have begun to develop through my classes and see the firsthand impact I could make through supply chain management.”

SpaceHACK helped Bhalla not only think about her future in supply chain management, but also connect with fellow students.

“I came into the team not knowing anyone, so having the chance to meet new people, work with a diverse team and make new friendships was a unique experience. I was able to learn more about how to use various technological tools to support our decisions, while also meeting new people and forming connections.”

Host institutions were ASU, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, CY Cergy Paris Université and the University of National and World Economy. Global partners comprised Ecuador Space Society, PMI Bulgaria, Reporters d’Espoirs, SDSN Bulgaria, Guayaquil Space Society, University of Mayagüez and MSC.

“Global partnerships bring diverse perspectives, regional expertise and broader participation to the program. They are not only participants but active contributors to the development of SpaceHACK itself,” Rittschof said. 

Rittshof aims to expand SpaceHACK’s participation and partnerships to empower students to use data and innovation to address sustainability challenges.

“SpaceHACK operates both through a strong online presence and through host universities around the world, which coordinate and support students on their own campuses just as we do at ASU. This model enriches the learning experience, ensures challenges are globally relevant, and significantly expands the reach and impact of the solutions developed by participants,” Rittschof said.

SpaceHACK was Bhalla’s first-ever hackathon and a catalyst for building her future career in supply chain management, data analytics and sustainability. 

“I have always been passionate about sustainability, which was one of the main reasons I chose supply chain management. Knowing I can have an impact, such as this project, on future supply chains makes me hopeful for my future, and thank you to everyone who helped make this experience possible,” Bhalla said.