Unravelling the mysteries of computer coding gave schoolchildren interesting insights at a hackathon event in Liverpool.
Around 100 secondary-level students went to two venues at Liverpool Central Library and St George’s Hall last week to discover the importance of such a skill as coding.
Organised by Liverpool City Council and group iamtheCODE, the aim of the event was to empower students, particularly women, from all backgrounds into careers in the ‘STEAMED’ sectors – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship and Design.
CEO of iamtheCODE, Mariéme Jamme, told JMU Journalism: “We need to invest in young people and encourage them to get into these sectors through creative learning and technology.”
Ms Jamme is an award-winning technologist and pioneer in system change and a Young Global leader of the Word Economic Forum.
She has been named as one of the BBC’s 100 Power Women UK and was named twice on the UK Power list as Britain’s 100 most influential people of African and African Caribbean heritage.
YouTube: TEDx Talks
Across both days, a variety of subjects covered coding, app-building, data analysis and designs around sustainable development goals. Speakers talked about their experiences in the industry and mentors were there to guide the youngsters through the coding.
The best ideas that came out of the two days will now be developed and supported through local problems with the help of iamtheCODE mentoring and further activities with partners in the UK, Asia and Africa.
St John Bosco Academy won first place with Broughton Hall Catholic High School coming in second place.
Group iamtheCODE hopes to continue these hackathon events across the UK in order to encourage the next generation of students into these influential sectors.