CrowdCamp is a vibrant, interdisciplinary ideation hackathon crafted for anyone excited about collective intelligence, crowdsourcing, human computation, and AI. Whether you’re from social sciences, design, computer science, ethnography, or simply have a curious mind—there’s room for everyone!

 No coding skills? No worries! Bring your creativity, ideas, and passion for tackling wicked problems—complex, interdisciplinary challenges needing innovative solutions.

Public confidence in science is slipping, and with it, the support for the very research funding that fuels innovation. The true story behind our greatest breakthroughs is rarely told: how Google's PageRank grew from an NSF grant; how the 988 Crisis Lifeline was established through federally funded research; and how the blue LEDs in our phones are the product of three decades of basic materials research. We don't see the years of foundational work or the grants that made them possible, nor do we fully connect them to the profound impact they have on our daily lives.

This year, CrowdCamp is tackling this challenge head-on. Our vision is to create a Ledger of Discovery: a new generation of tools focused on mastering the art of scientific storytelling as it happens.

Our goal is to move beyond mere data, empowering researchers, advocates, and funders to better identify and communicate the true impact of their work. We want to build platforms that trace the journey from an initial idea to a life-changing outcome, transforming the complex ledger of scientific progress into narratives of human value that resonate with everyone.

During this one-day hackathon, we will explore key questions:

• How can we map the "ripple effect" of an idea (from the lab to your lives)? The GPS that guides you to a new restaurant, the life-saving vaccine your parent receives, the camera sensor in your phone—these all began as abstract research, often funded by a single grant decades ago. Do we need a platform that visualizes this chaotic journey, connecting the dots from a scientific paper to a life made better? How we communicate these scientific journeys and their impact to the general public?

• How can we use Collective Intelligence to tell this story? The journey of an idea is too complex for any one person to track. How can our tool empower the global community—from scientists and journalists to students and advocates—to collaboratively fill in the missing pieces and weave this evidence into a powerful story anyone can understand?

Creative Outputs Welcome: This hackathon is designed to kickstart new solutions to this urgent challenge. Whether it’s a sleek Figma prototype, an engaging slide deck, a video, or a novel “vibe coding” demo (think AI-assisted coding from natural language prompts!), your contribution can help shape the future of how we fund, discuss, and value science.

• Figma Prototypes: Visually compelling interactive designs to communicate your ideas.

• Vibe Coding: Experience the playful magic of AI-assisted coding—no coding background needed! Just vibes and curiosity.

• Slide Decks & Storyboards: Storytelling at its best—communicate your big ideas clearly and creatively.

• …zines, mockups, sketches, TikToks—if it helps you express a solution, bring it on!

• Inclusive Collaboration: Join a diverse community where your unique skills and perspectives contribute meaningfully.

• Real-World Impact: Work on ideas that matter and could lead to impactful innovations.

• Recognition & Community Feedback: Get valuable insights and possibly earn exciting recognitions from the Collective Intelligence community.

• Future Research Opportunities: Your contributions here might kick off future research projects and publications!

• Flexible Registration: Express your interest anytime! Teams will start forming online 2-3 weeks before the event, ensuring you’re ready to hit the ground running on August 4th.

• Conference Registration: Check out the ACM Collective Intelligence registration page: https://ci.acm.org/2025/attend/

Let’s innovate, collaborate, and make a difference—together! 

Express your interest now! 

• Tianyi Li 

• Vikram Mohanty

• Amy Rechkemmer 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Tianyi at li4251+crowdcamp2025@purdue.edu