The Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) concluded on Saturday the NASA International Space Apps Challenge hackathon, hosted by the university from October 3-5. The hackathon closing ceremony was attended by IMSIU President Dr. Ahmed Al-Amri and US Ambassador to the Kingdom Michael Ratney, as well as several other officials and experts. This global event aimed to promote interest in Earth and space sciences, raise awareness about NASA's data, and inspire national talent in the sector, to prepare a specialized generation. The challenge focused on Earth science applications and space exploration, utilizing NASA's open data. A total of 64 teams participated with 471 participants, including 156 from IMSIU. At the end of the competition, a panel of experts evaluated the projects' innovation and feasibility. Thousands of innovators from around the world took part in the hackathon, which gave them the opportunity to use open-source data from NASA for 48 hours to develop innovative solutions to cha llenges faced on Earth and in space. Winners were announced at the closing ceremony; they were selected from among people who presented outstanding ideas in various fields related to space applications. Hosting this event reflects IMSIU's commitment to promoting innovation and supporting young talent in this sector. Source: Saudi Press Agency