Hackathon Rules

  1. Python Requirement
    Python must play a meaningful role in your project. Projects that only use Python for a minor or unrelated component may be disqualified.

  2. Environmental Focus
    Projects must address a genuine environmental, sustainability, conservation, or resource-efficiency problem.

  3. Original Work
    Participants must create their own project during the hackathon. Existing projects may not be submitted as-is.

  4. Open Source and Third-Party Tools
    Participants may use open-source libraries, frameworks, APIs, datasets, pretrained models, and other third-party technologies, provided they comply with the applicable licenses and terms of use.

  5. AI-Assisted Development
    AI coding assistants and generative AI tools are permitted. Participants remain responsible for understanding, testing, and submitting their own work.

  6. Hardware
    Hardware projects are permitted. Participants may use microcontrollers, sensors, cameras, robotics platforms, and other hardware alongside Python.

  7. Team Size
    Participants may work individually or in teams. Each participant may be a member of only one submitted project.

  8. Submission Deadline
    All required submission materials must be submitted through Devpost before the official deadline. Late submissions may not be considered.

  9. Working Project
    Submissions should contain a functional prototype, proof of concept, or working implementation. A project does not need to be production-ready.

  10. Accurate Claims
    Participants must not make false or misleading claims about their project's environmental impact, performance, accuracy, or capabilities.

  11. Safety and Legality
    Projects must comply with applicable laws and must not intentionally create unreasonable risks to people, property, or the environment.

  12. Intellectual Property
    Participants must have the right to use all code, images, datasets, models, audio, and other materials included in their submission.

  13. Multiple Submissions
    Each participant may contribute to only one submission unless the organizers explicitly state otherwise.

  14. Judging
    Projects will be evaluated according to the published judging criteria. Judges' decisions are final.

  15. Disqualification
    Organizers reserve the right to disqualify submissions that violate these rules, the Devpost terms, applicable laws, or the spirit of the hackathon.

  16. Rule Changes
    Organizers reserve the right to clarify or modify the rules when necessary. Any significant changes will be communicated to participants.