Open Tech Community celebrated Open Data Week 2024 with the Open Datathon event. As a pre-event, orientation events were organized through various colleges in Kathmandu with student clubs of the college. The pre-event collective reached approximately 500 students across institutions, the Open Datathon aims to promote open technologies, encourage the use of open data, and share insights about the upcoming Open Data Week 2024.

College Collaborators for Open Data Week 2024 (ODW24) pre-events

The goal of the pre-events were to orient the students of colleges to understand the concept of Open Technologies and gain the technical aspect of Open Data which would ease them in participating in the OWD24. Also, these events would bring new and fresh open data enthusiasts to the Open Data Community.

As student clubs were the target of the ODW24, the pre-event was supported by:

Each college plays a vital role to create a vibrant environment for students to learn and explore on open technologies and open data.

Social Media Buzz

We used Open Tech Community’s Facebook page and twitter page as our social media outlets of the events and activities:

• Facebook: facebook.com/opentechcommunity
• Twitter: twitter.com/OpenTechNP
• YouTube: youtube.com/@opentechcommunity

Main Event – Open Data Week 2024, Open Datathon

• Event Title: Open Data for Green and Circular Economy
• SDG Focus: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Date: March 02 – March 07

The main event is set to explore the potential of open data in promoting sustainable practices, with a specific focus on Sustainable Cities and Communities. This aligns with the broader global effort to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We open up an online application form for participants to submit their idea and selected 7 teams from the submitted idea:

• Dumba: Easing in public transportation
• Impact Minds: Finding accommodation easily
• TechBug: Improve local bus transportation
• Team Infinite: Community driven farming
• Nyano Nano: Managing parking spaces
• Team ICMS: City pollution analysis
• Glocal: Recycling city and community waste

Local Community Partners as Mentors

To support the participants of Datathon to build their idea we take support of esteemed local community partners to mentor participants. These include

1. Flutter Kathmandu: Damodar Lohani helped the participants on solving problems related to mobile application development.
2. Kathmandu Living Labs: Bhawak Pokhrel helped the participants on solving problems related to building civic technology.
3. Open Knowledge Nepal: James Shrestha helped the participants on solving problems related to the concepts of open data.
4. YouthMapper Nepal: Nishan Aryal helped the participants on solving problems related to the concepts of data used in open source communities and the concept of green and circular economy.
5. Women Leader in Information Technology: Sarila Ngakhusi helped the participants on solving problems related to the concepts of data visualization, web application and business model.
6. Open Tech Community: Pawan Kumar Kandel & Arjun Gautam helped the participants on solving problems related to the concepts of building product.

Event Schedule

The event unfolds in a multi-faceted schedule:

1. First day at the venue
2. Four days of remote mentorship with online sessions
3. Final day back at the venue

First day at the venue

On the first day of the datathon event, teams and mentors gathered to share their ideas. Teams talked about their plans, and mentors gave guidance. When teams got closer to mentors, the mentors helped them understand what they needed to do and what they didn’t need to worry about. It was a day of exchanging ideas and getting helpful advice.

Four days of remote mentorship with online sessions

For the next four days, the event continued online with two sessions each day. In the first session, mentors talked about things that would help teams develop a strong idea. Then, in the second session, participants could ask questions, interact, and share how they were doing with their projects. It was a way for everyone to learn and work together.

Final day back at the venue 

On the last day, participants finished up their ideas and plans for a product that uses open data to solve a problem. They then presented these ideas to the judges. The judges for the day were:

• Nishan Aryal, who is an ambassador for YouthMapper in Asia-Pacific
• Bhawak Pokhrel, a senior mobile engineer at Kathmandu Living Labs
• Arjun Gautam, who is a community organizer for Open Tech Community.

This diverse format allows participants to immerse themselves in the collaborative spirit of the Open Datathon, benefiting from both in-person interactions and remote guidance.

Open Datathon Event

The Open Datathon Event was a dynamic and engaging gathering that fostered collaboration and innovation within the realm of data-driven problem-solving on Green and Circular Economy (SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities). Participants showcase their ideas and expertise in leveraging data to address real-world challenges related to GCE. The event’s interactive nature between mentors and participants created a vibrant atmosphere where participants actively presented their unique perspectives and potential solutions.

Mascot Release

A symbol of Open Data has always been a search for us in community activities. We released a new Open Data Mascot as a contribution to Open Data communities under Creative Commons license.

The brand-new Open Data Mascot, “DataBuzz Duo” promotes the idea of transparency, collaboration, and the power of data!

As its designer Arjun Gautam says: “DataBuzz Duo” is brought to life by two adorable cartoon bees, presenting the idea of a dynamic spirit of collaboration and teamwork. The background has regular hexagonal shape with text “Open Data”, symbolizing the strength and unity within our Open Data Community.

Winning Team at Open Datathon

Out of the 7 teams that took part, the winning team is “Team Dumba” from Amrit Campus. They stood out because of their amazing product idea called “YetaUta.” This idea is all about making transportation in busy city areas smoother and more efficient.

“Team Dumba” showed everyone how their innovation could really make a difference. They came up with creative ways to improve how people move around in crowded cities. Their outstanding effort and unique approach set them apart from the other teams. This recognition highlights their dedication and clever thinking in solving real-world problems during the Datathon event.

Next Steps for the Winners

For the winning team, “Team Dumba,” the journey doesn’t end with the Datathon victory. We are keen on coordinating their participation in a national-level conference in Kathmandu, offering them a platform to showcase their innovation to a wider audience.

Event Banner, Participants, and Venue Partner

Keep an eye out for the vibrant event banner that encapsulates the essence of the Open Datathon. The diverse pool of participants promises a dynamic exchange of ideas and skills, creating an atmosphere ripe for innovation. A special acknowledgment goes to the venue partner for providing the space and support necessary to make this event a reality.

As the Open Datathon gains momentum, it’s evident that this gathering of minds is not just an event; it’s a step towards a more sustainable and connected future.

Outcome

The Open Datathon event energized our open data community, fostering collaboration and innovation. It engaged 7 diverse teams, promoting sustainable solutions for a greener future. Through mentorship and idea-sharing, participants developed impactful projects, supporting the power of open data in solving real-world challenges. This vibrant gathering not only celebrated creativity but also laid the groundwork for a connected future. A heartfelt thanks to the Open Knowledge Foundation for this opportunity, ensuring that our community remains dynamic and ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges with the spirit of openness and collaboration.

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About Open Data Day

Open Data Day (ODD) is an annual celebration of open data all over the world. Groups from many countries create local events on the day where they will use open data in their communities.

As a way to increase the representation of different cultures, since 2023 we offer the opportunity for organisations to host an Open Data Day event on the best date within a one-week period. In 2024, a total of 287 events happened all over the world between March 2nd-8th, in 60+ countries using 15 different languages.

All outputs are open for everyone to use and re-use.

In 2024, Open Data Day was also a part of the HOT OpenSummit ’23-24 initiative, a creative programme of global event collaborations that leverages experience, passion and connection to drive strong networks and collective action across the humanitarian open mapping movement

For more information, you can reach out to the Open Knowledge Foundation team by emailing opendataday@okfn.org. You can also join the Open Data Day Google Group to ask for advice or share tips and get connected with others.