GreenHacks Spring 2026 Innovation ChallengeÂ
February 20-22nd, 2026
Reframing Natural Disasters: Innovating Against Climate Extremes
From flooding and storm surges to extreme wind and heat, natural disasters pose severe risks to the safety and well-being of human society. Across the globe, natural disasters regularly bring devastating losses of life and destruction. With the onset of climate change, weather patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable and intensified, risking more frequent and more dangerous catastrophes. We challenge this year's participants to respond to this challenge with innovative ideas to determine how we can best protect human life and infrastructure from these threats.
Tracks
The Department of Civil and Systems Engineering at JHU brings together expertise in structures, materials, and complex systems to address societal challenges, developing solutions that strengthen infrastructure, build resilient communities, and improve human health and safety.
The Ralph O'Connor Sustainable Energy Institute brings together the extensive energy-related activities already underway at JHU and focuses on developing impactful programs to address transformation of the energy sector to address climate change.
The JHU Center for Humanitarian Health brings together expertise in public health, medicine, and nursing to improve the health of populations affected by conflict and disasters through research, education, and partnerships that strengthen humanitarian response and reduce suffering worldwide.
The Morton K. Blaustein Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at JHU brings together expertise in geology, oceanography, atmospheric science, ecology, and planetary science to understand the processes shaping Earth and other planets, advancing knowledge of climate and environmental change through research and education.
The JHU Alumni Association connects graduates across the global Johns Hopkins community through networking, mentorship, lifelong learning, and volunteer opportunities, fostering lasting relationships with the university and supporting alumni in their personal and professional growth.
MEIA supports solar, wind, batteries, energy efficiency, grid modernization, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), and any other technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions or provides negative emissions benefits in the electric, oil and gas, residential, commercial or industrial sectors.
The Pava Center for Entrepreneurship at JHU supports students, alumni, and community innovators in developing and launching ventures through mentorship, funding, and entrepreneurial programs, helping transform ideas into solutions that create positive impact in Baltimore and beyond.
At the 2026 Innovation Challenge, we had several different speakers and prizes throughout the whole event!Â
Some of the team presentations...
The organizing team!
And of course, we had lots of fun!