RE-AIM Public Health IDEAS Hackathon

Today's youth shape their identities through digital ecosystems that form their social and professional lives. Technology offers unprecedented access to information, communities to engage in, and outlets for creativity, but young people report feeling lonelier than ever. Constant connectivity and adopting an online persona subjects young people to misdirection, exclusion, anxiety, and other stressors that impact their mental health.

As public health practitioners, we view the digital environment as a social determinant of health that supports or undermines the well-being of youth. We welcome your ideas in addressing the problems that arise through the Intersection of Youth, Technology and Well-being!

We are honored to help and represent high school and university students across the globe in collaborating and attending workshops to further develop their ideas.

Collaborators

Building a Global Scholar Network

For Public Health Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The University of Memphis School of Public Health invites students to participate in the 2025-2026 RE-AIM Public Health IDEAS Hackathon. A hackathon is a fast-paced, collaborative competition where students come together to brainstorm, design and build creative solutions to real-world challenges using SPH’s CORE pillars.

Getting Started

Ready to compete? Click on this interest form to secure your spot for one of our infosesssions. Workshops will be provided for registered participants--when you have your team together submit the entry application linked below:

• Submit the Interest Form for the Infosessions

  Secure your spot in one of our two infosessions by filling out the interest form here.
• Register Your Project

  Current high school and university students are eligible to participate in the hackathon. You can participate individually, as a team or as a whole class. Complete the registration link here.
• Attend Our Workshop Series

  This year our collaborators will host one of the workshops to help guide you through the hackathon process as well as connect you to fellow public health students around the world.
• Draft Your Submission

  After watching the first three workshops, begin drafting your submission. The abstract is limited to 500 words and must include the following:

  • Problem statement (10 points) highlights the topic and the public health problem it addresses.
    • Background
    • Objective
    • Significance and Relevance
  • Solution/Innovation proposed (10 points)
  • Approach - describe how you plan to address this problem (10 points)
  • Impact: How would you assess? (10 Points)
  • Sustainability: How will you propose the sustainability of the solution? (10 Points)
• Finalists Notified

  Abstracts will be reviewed at the end of February so that finalists can be notified in the beginning of March. If selected, you and/or your team will move forward in the competition and submit a pitch to the judges.
• Submit your Final Pitch

  To participate, submit a 1-3 minute YouTube video pitch, following these guidelines:

  • Upload your recorded video to YouTube as an unlisted link
  • Address key evaluation criteria
  • Submit your YouTube video link through the pitch submission form emailed to participants
• Winners Announced at the Award Ceremony

  To conclude this years hackathon, all students and their families are invited to the University of Memphis School of Public Health to announce the winners and celebrate all of our students contributions to the field of Public Health and their communities around the world.

Judging Criteria

The winning public health ideas will be selected by the esteemed jury representing a multidisciplinary team based on the following criteria:

• Creative – Demonstrates originality and innovative thinking.
• Research-Oriented – Backed by evidence, data, or public health principles.
• Entrepreneurial – Practical and scalable with potential for real-world implementation.
• Accessible – Addresses disparities and ensures inclusivity.
• Transformative – Has the potential to create meaningful, long-term change.
• Effective for the Theme – Directly aligns with the theme of the intersection of youth, technology and well-being.

Questions?

Please contact our team at sph_hackathon@memphis.edu.