The Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy

About the Wilkes Climate Solutions Hackathon 

What happens when we give bold thinkers just 24 hours to design real solutions for climate change? Each year the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy at the University of Utah organizes an intensive, team-based competition where university students rapidly develop innovative, scalable solutions to pressing climate challenges.

Our video profiles the student teams competing in the 2026 hackathon on energy solutions. No coding is required, and it's open to all students from any major. Industry professionals serve as mentors, advisors, and judges — steering ideas toward real-world application and identifying top talent.

Ultimately, for students, the hackathon is more than a competition. It’s a launchpad.