Innovative solutions and lasting impact: Insights from the GlassCircle Hackathon

In the rapidly evolving field of recycling and sustainability, innovative minds like Maria Bohic and Augustin Hueso are leading the charge. Both students participated in the GlassCircle Hackathon, held from May 10-12, 2023, where their team, Team #2, was evaluated as the top performer. The competition was designed to find creative solutions for repurposing glass fibre residues. Now, more than a year later, their reflections in August 2024 reveal the enduring impact of this experience on their personal and professional development.

From classroom to real-world application

Maria Bohic, a final-year engineering student at Ecole européenne d’ingénieurs en génie des matériaux (EEIGM) in Nancy, France, and an apprentice at CEA-INES, was introduced to the GlassCircle Hackathon while working on a project at Luleå University of Technology (LTU). “I was doing a project course at LTU when my supervisors, Zainab Al-Maqdasi and Roberts Joffe, introduced me to the GlassCircle project and the hackathon,” she recalls. Her classmate, Augustin Hueso, also from EEIGM, joined her in the challenge. Augustin was working on a student project in LTU’s polymeric composite material department and learned about the hackathon through Professor Robert Joffe.

The Hackathon challenge

The hackathon provided both Maria and Augustin with a platform to address waste challenges at a local scale. Their specific challenge was to create interior design or furniture elements with specific requirements using glass fiber residues. They proposed a solution to reuse these residues from the boat industry by creating lockers for personal belongings in nautical areas. Their idea was to integrate this production directly within boat factories, promoting sustainability and efficiency.

Their solution not only impressed the judges but also earned their team the top spot in the competition. Uldis Rekners, Head of Product Development at Valmiera Glass, which supported the event, praised their project, saying, “I was a bit surprised about how far all of you have gone in your development research… but finally, we decided. Our first place goes to Team #2. The plan was very well-scaled, very business realistic, and with some new developments, especially in the preparation of the glass fibres, this could grow even beyond the initial objective of recycling industrial leftovers.”

Maria highlights the experience as one that taught her to make quick decisions and manage stress effectively. “I learned to be efficient and take decisions quickly, which was useful for my academic presentations and reports,” she says. Augustin adds that the hackathon allowed him to combine his design skills with practical sustainability challenges. “The hackathon helped me to think about the durability aspect and how it’s useful,” he explains.

Long-term impact and future goals

The skills and knowledge gained during the hackathon have had a lasting impact on both students, as evidenced by their reflections more than a year later. Maria has applied these insights throughout her academic career, particularly in managing stress and working under time constraints. She plans to continue her work in the field of material science, focusing on recycling and developing sustainable materials.

Augustin, now working in a team environment where new challenges arise every 48 hours, has found the hackathon experience invaluable. “The hackathon concept is great for learning to manage pressure and trust others,” he notes. He is now supporting colleagues in his company to work with regenerative materials, pushing the boundaries of sustainable product development.

Reflections and takeaways

Both Maria and Augustin reflect on the hackathon as a pivotal experience. For Maria, it was about working within a team to find solutions for a more sustainable world. Augustin captures the essence of the hackathon with his quote: “A Hackathon lets you realize that in 48 hours you are four people at the same time: the technical expert, the communicator, the artist, and the storyteller.”

The GlassCircle Hackathon, held in May 2023, not only provided a platform for innovative ideas but also helped participants like Maria and Augustin to grow personally and professionally. Their journey, even more than a year later, is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in tackling the challenges of sustainability and recycling.

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