NYC STEM 2026 · Problem Statement 01
STEM Discussion Forum
Build a custom, highly engaging discussion platform where STEM enthusiasts can collaborate, network and share groundbreaking ideas.
How can AI transform scientific research?
Open-source tools for STEM students
Let’s discuss the future of space technology
The Challenge
Build a place where STEM ideas come alive.
STEM enthusiasts have ideas, questions, discoveries and experiences worth sharing. But meaningful conversations often remain scattered across different platforms, making it difficult for people to find the right communities, exchange knowledge and build meaningful connections.
Your challenge is to build a dedicated discussion platform designed specifically for the STEM community — a space where people can ask questions, start conversations, exchange ideas, collaborate with others and discover interesting discussions across different areas of STEM.
The Output
What should you build?
Build a working discussion and community platform that demonstrates how STEM enthusiasts can interact, share knowledge and discover meaningful conversations.
What to Build
Create a custom discussion platform tailored for STEM enthusiasts. Your solution should provide a clear and engaging experience for starting discussions, participating in conversations and connecting with other members of the community.
Expected Outcome
By the end of the hackathon, your team should have a working prototype that demonstrates a complete community experience — from discovering a topic and joining a discussion to contributing ideas and interacting with other participants.
Your solution should demonstrate
- A clear way to discover and participate in STEM discussions.
- An engaging experience for asking questions, sharing ideas and responding to others.
- Meaningful interaction and collaboration between community members.
- A polished, working prototype that can be demonstrated end-to-end.
The Output
Turn the idea into a working community.
Your goal is to build a functional prototype that demonstrates how a dedicated STEM community can make discussions, knowledge sharing and collaboration more engaging.
A STEM-focused discussion platform
Build a working platform where STEM enthusiasts can discover topics, start discussions, ask questions, share ideas and interact with other members of the community.
A complete community experience
Your prototype should demonstrate an end-to-end experience — from discovering a discussion to participating in it and connecting with other members.
Think beyond a basic forum. Focus on creating an experience that makes people want to return, participate and share their ideas.
Submit Your Project
Built something? Show us.
Your final submission should give us everything we need to understand, explore and experience your solution.
Working Prototype
Share a live link to your working project.
GitHub Repository
Share the repository containing your project code.
PPT + Demo Video
Show your solution in a video of up to 5 minutes.
Submission portal coming soon.