Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0321
trent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 12-063
NASA LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION TO DEVELOP SPACE APPS
WASHINGTON -- NASA, governments around the world and civil society
organizations will co-host the International Space Apps Challenge on
April 21-22 with events across seven continents and in space.
The apps competition will bring people together to exploit openly
available data collected by space agencies around the world to create
innovative solutions to longstanding global challenges. An initiative
of the U.S. Open Government National Action Plan, the challenge will
showcase the impact scientists and citizens can have by working
together to solve challenging problems that affect every person on
Earth. Events will take place in San Francisco; Exeter, U.K.;
Melbourne, Australia; Sao Paulo; Nairobi, Kenya; Jakarta, Indonesia;
Tokyo; McMurdo Station, Antarctica; and the International Space
Station.
"We are excited to convene the International Space Apps Challenge as
one of the U.S. commitments to the Open Government Partnership to
explore new ways that open space data can help the planet and further
space exploration," said Deborah Diaz, deputy chief information
officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Open data includes statistics, facts and other information that is
freely available to the public. Teams will compete with others around
the world to use open data to design innovative solutions to a
predetermined series of global challenges. Specific challenges are
being compiled and will soon be available.
"The International Space Apps Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for
individuals around the world to create new ways to use space-derived
data to save lives, transform industries, and connect us more deeply
with our world," said Michael Green, general manager of the
Australian Government's Space Policy Unit. "Space applications
technology underpins critical sectors such as navigation,
communications, emergency management, agriculture and climate
science."
Participants will be free to develop mobile apps, software and
hardware, data visualization, and platform solutions that could
contribute to space exploration missions and help improve life on
earth.
"Open Government is more than simply releasing data. It is a
fundamental shift in the way government interacts with citizens,"
said Chris Vein, deputy U.S. chief technology officer for Government
Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy. "This apps challenge is an opportunity for governments to
involve citizens in solving some of the most challenging problems
facing our Nation and the world, and the White House is excited that
NASA is at the forefront of this worldwide effort."
The U.S. National Action Plan is part of the Open Government
Partnership, a multilateral initiative to promote transparency,
participation and collaboration between governments and citizens.
President Obama and other heads of state committed to these
principles on the margins of the United Nations in September 2011.
To learn more about the International Space Apps Challenge, visit:
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