Computer Science org hosts sustainability-themed hackathon-forum
Date Posted: April 23, 2025 at 02:20 PM
Adamson University students stepped into the role of changemakers during SustainaThon: Code for a Sustainable Metro Manila, a sustainability-themed hackathon-forum hosted by the Adamson Computer Science Society (ACOMSS) on April 21.
The event brought together young developers, designers, and thinkers to confront some of the most pressing urban and environmental challenges through the power of technology.
With Metro Manila’s future as both backdrop and battleground, student teams proposed tech-driven solutions rooted in empathy, practicality, and a deep sense of social responsibility.
One of the most impactful parts of the day came from guest speaker Dr. Chi Wee Tan, Associate Professor at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology in Kuala Lumpur.
Drawing on his global experience in research and education, Dr. Tan guided participants through the human-centered design process—a five-step approach that begins not with technology, but with people.
He emphasized the importance of understanding the lived realities of those most affected by environmental issues. Innovation, he explained, begins with listening: to flood-stricken families, to waste workers, to those whose stories often go unheard in tech development.
For Dr. Tan, meaningful solutions are those that emerge from the ground up.
He shared inspiring examples of student-led projects across Asia—from AI tools that detect illegal deforestation in Colombia to real-time flood simulations helping villages in Bangladesh prepare for natural disasters – stories that serve as powerful reminders that even small, localized innovations can have impact that crosses borders.
Dr. Tan also addressed the role of AI and automation, encouraging students to use emerging tools like generative AI thoughtfully and ethically.
"We are not just technology consumers," he said, encouraging students to build with purpose, reminding them that the goal isn't complexity—it’s connection, clarity, and compassion. "We are technology creators."
This spirit was on full display in two standout projects presented by Adamson students in the event’s culmination activity.
Team Waterboys introduced AquaGuard, a mobile application that addresses Metro Manila’s ongoing flooding concerns. The app features real-time flood risk monitoring, AI-powered evacuation pathfinding, and community-driven updates.
With its design set to be free and accessible to all, AquaGuard combines official data and citizen input to help guide people to safety in times of emergency.
Meanwhile, Team Peña-Cheese unveiled TanimTayo, a community-based platform designed for urban gardening. With limited space and access to quality seeds a challenge in the city, the app connects users to exchange plants, seeds, and gardening knowledge.
TanimTayo was presented as more than a gardening tool, but something that fosters food security, mental well-being, and climate resilience one plant swap at a time.
Both teams presented not just solutions, but stories, namely that of neighborhoods coming together, of overlooked voices being heard, and of tech serving not just as innovation, but as empathy in action.
