Launchpad Incubation at The University of Toledo is hosting the regional Toledo Hackathon from 6 p.m. Friday, March 24 through 6 p.m. Sunday, March 26 at 1510 N. Westwood Ave.

The Eric Hack competition challenges participants to think of creative solutions to some of Lake Erie’s biggest issues.

Local coders, designers, engineers, water experts, students and the general public are invited.

“At a time when critical funding for the health of Lake Erie is in jeopardy, it’s more important than ever for citizens to come together to produce homegrown, innovative solutions for the most precious resource in our region,” said Morgan Fitzgibbons, program director for Erie Hack.

One of the goals of Erie Hack is to engage young people in the emerging “blue economy”: the economic sector dedicated to sustaining freshwater bodies around the globe. One of the ways this is accomplished is by hosting hackathons in cities surrounding Lake Erie.

The tech-driven water innovation competition, which includes more than $100,000 in prizes, focuses on six individual challenges:

• Mitigate nutrient loading and its environmental impacts;
• Reduce and remediate urban pollution;
• Cultivate resilience in water infrastructure systems;
• Manage aging water infrastructure systems;
• Connect communities to the value of water; and
• Drive the creation of meaningful data.

Both individuals and teams not exceeding five members may compete. Participants must be 18 years of age or older to compete, unless he or she is on a high school team.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required in advance at eventbrite.com/e/erie-hack-official-launch-tickets-31540780323.

For more information on Erie Hack, visit eriehack.io/challenge.