IBM Student Hackathon: Tackling food waste using AI Solutions

IBM Student Hackathon: Tackling food waste using AI Solutions

Monday 23 February 2026, 9am - 4pm

The Octagon

About this event

Looking specifically at food waste you’ll consider:

Could AI help companies create ‘just enough’ products to fulfil demand with predictive analysis?

Could AI help shoppers make sustainable choices when buying products?

Could AI help shoppers be aware of their food’s carbon footprint?

To kick-off at 9am, you will be put into teams of 8 and work through all the steps to develop innovative solutions. You will explore how a ‘shopper’ may think and what’s working right now, before fleshing out your own ideas. At the end, you’ll create either a 5-minute video or presentation before presenting to our panel of judges!

This event is open to any student, undergraduate or postgraduate, currently enrolled at Queen Mary University London. Whilst having some understanding of AI or sustainability is beneficial, all knowledge levels and academic backgrounds are welcome.

Upcoming events

IBM Student Hackathon: Tackling food waste using AI Solutions: 23rd February 9am - 4pm; The Octagon; Join IBM Master Inventor, John McNamara, to bring creativity and out-of-the box thinking together to tackle SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.

Plant your own herbs workshop!: 24th February 3pm - 5pm; Zero waste shop; Come and unwind by planting your own herbs! Join us at the Zero Waste shop for hands-on guidance from our resident grounds and garden operative and go away with your own potted herb that you can watch thrive and even use in your cooking.

David Attenborough's 'Ocean' Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion: 24th February 5pm - 7:30pm; BLOC cinema; Join us for an evening screening of Oceans, the acclaimed David Attenborough documentary that dives deep into the extraordinary worlds beneath the waves.

The Wonder of Wool: Climate Action Through Animation: 26th February 11am - 1pm; The Yurt; Wool is a natural, renewable and biodegradable material which is antibacterial, anti-microbial naturally flame resistant, water repellent and naturally breathable. In this workshop we will celebrate wool by using it to make short animated films.

Message to the Earth workshop: 27th February noon - 2pm; The Yurt; Messages to the Earth is an interactive, creative workshop that invites you to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with nature, yourself, and others.

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