About the challenge
Most hackathons give everyone the same prompt. This one doesn’t.
In the STEMinate Wildcard Hack, you’ll create your own challenge by choosing words from different categories in our Word Bank. Your combination becomes your unique prompt, so no two teams have to build the same thing.
The goal isn’t to make the most complicated project. We want to see creative thinking, good problem solving, and how well you transform your chosen words into one cohesive idea.
Whether you’re making a website, mobile app, game, CAD design, hardware prototype, or anything in between, we can’t wait to see what you create.
Your project should tell one complete story that naturally incorporates every word you choose. Think of your words as pieces of a puzzle. The best projects won't just mention the words; they'll weave them together into a solution that makes sense.
For example, if your words are:
Water + Rubik's Cube + Drone + Car
questions you can ask yourself:
Here, your project could be a drone system that monitors flooded roads after heavy rainfall. The drone scans road conditions, the car represents emergency vehicles that need safe routes, and the Rubik's Cube inspires an algorithm that efficiently solves the best path through changing road closures, much like solving a puzzle.
You can create your own combination from the Word Bank or choose one of our recommended sets if you'd like a starting point.
Get started
Step 1 Form your team or participate solo.
Step 2 Choose 3 - 4 words from the Word Bank.
Your project should solve that problem while following your chosen constraint.
If you’re stuck, feel free to use one of our recommended challenge sets below.
Step 3 Build your project.
Don’t forget to write down the words you selected, you’ll need to include them in your submission.
WORD BANK
Objects
- Rubik’s Cube
- Umbrella
- Bicycle
- Magnet
- Mirror
- Flashlight
- Dice
- Compass
- Backpack
- Telescope
Technology
- Drone
- Robot
- GPS
- QR Code
- Sensor
- Satellite
- 3D Printer
- Smartwatch
- Solar Panel
- Bluetooth
Nature
- Water
- Volcano
- Tree
- Lightning
- Ocean
- Desert
- Wind
- Glacier
- Moon
- Coral
- Reef
Transportation
- Car
- Train
- Submarine
- Skateboard
- Rocket
- Hot Air Balloon
- Elevator
- Bicycle
- Ferry
- Motorcycle
Random
- Music
- Chocolate
- Origami
- Chess
- Camping
- Carnival
- Coffee
- Treasure
- Time
- Shadow
Example Combinations
Shadow + Telescope + Robot + Volcano
Chess + GPS + Ocean + Skateboard
Coffee + Satellite + Desert + Umbrella
Treasure + Magnet + Rocket + Origami
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