Return on Ocean Hackathon® 2021 with the winning team "Sargoteam", Fort de France

The Sargoteam, winner of the Ocean Hackathon® 2021

The Sargoteam is composed of 6 Martiniqueans wishing to act on the problem of the massive stranding of Sargasso. It includes a specialist in hydrodynamics and plastic pollution, a marine biologist, a full-stack web developer, a consultant in organization and IT strategy, a student in marketing and a student in management - finance.

What was your project?

Our project consists of an application that provides long-term forecasts on the stranding of Sargassum but also to validate these forecasts through participatory measures. Its added value is twofold: by proposing forecasts over 15 days it allows to better anticipate the interception or collection operations but also thanks to participative measurements to improve the quality of these precisions.

How did you experience this experiment?

The feedback in Martinique following our victory in the Ocean Hackathon® was very positive, we were able to meet the president of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique as well as many actors of the ecosystem involved in the Sargasso issue. Finally we had access to different opportunities to support our project.

What did Ocean Hackathon® bring you?

The Ocean Hackathon gave a real boost to the project, first by allowing to form a team around it but also the Hackathon exercise which allows in a limited time to progress in the maturation of the project. Finally, thanks to its media exposure, we have received many requests that have allowed the project to progress significantly.

What advice can you give to the teams participating this year?

The Ocean Hackathon® experience is unique because it allows you to meet a lot of people gathered around the love of the ocean, so first thing, arrive rested and in a good mood! Then, make the most of the resources at your disposal, both in terms of data and in terms of the support offered to you. Finally, to be successful in the final pitch, remember to rehearse well, it is a technical exercise that requires a lot of preparation.