Blockchain Hackathon Set for Sept. 28-29

David Speer, Walton College

Students work on innovative solutions to real-world use cases during the 2017 Blockchain Hackathon.

University of Arkansas students can get hands on experience to push the limits of blockchain technology and devise creative and imaginative solutions to real-world business challenges at a hackathon being hosted by the Blockchain Center of Excellence at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

The hackathon will be held at the Arkansas Union from 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, until 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29. 

Current U of A students should go to the Blockchain Hackathon page to register. Interested students should sign up right away because space at the hackathon is limited to 200.

Students from a variety of disciplines from across the university are needed to form problem-solving hackathon teams to learn the latest blockchain technology and take on business-posed challenges. No programming experience is required. 

"We are pleased to invite current students from across the University of Arkansas," said Mary Lacity, information systems professor and director of the recently announced Blockchain Center of Excellence at the Walton College. "All majors are welcome, both undergraduate and graduate, as diversity of perspectives on hackathon teams spawn innovative ideas valued by our sponsoring organizations."

During the hackathon — which has nothing to do with malicious computer hacking but which is an event where many different disciplines involved in software development collaborate intensively on projects — teams of students will work on business challenges to help solve real-world problems through innovative uses of blockchain technologies.

Use case sponsors will pitch cases to students Friday evening. Sponsors for the event, as well as some of the providers of use-cases for study, include ArcBest Technologies, Credera, Heifer International, IBM, Idatafy, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., Microsoft, Startup Junkie, the State of Arkansas, Tyson Foods and Walmart. Additional sponsors are welcome.