Apply to Be a Local Lead
NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023 Local Lead Application
What is the role of a Space Apps Local Lead? Local Leads organize a local in-person or local virtual Space Apps event for a specific city or town. Local Leads increase awareness of and engagement with the 2023 NASA International Space Apps Challenge on October 7-8, 2023. Whether you are a returning or first-time Lead, please fill out the full application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
(Please note, this application is for event organizers known as “Local Leads” only. If you want to sign up to participate in a local Space Apps event, please return to https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/ in mid-July 2023 when Participant Registration will open.)
LOCAL LEAD BENEFITS:
- Serve as a Local Lead alongside NASA and the Space Apps Global Organizing Team to develop the world’s largest annual global hackathon, with participants and supporting teammates in 160+ countries
- Champion Space Apps in your local community, recruiting local coders, scientists, students, artists, storytellers, designers, engineers, data experts and others who may participate during the Space Apps event(October 7-8, 2023)
- Immerse yourself and serve as a thought leader in your city’s space, tech, innovation, and creative communities
- Support noteworthy participants in their hackathon journeys. Nominate top projects for judging at the Global level, with Global Nominees, Global Finalists, and Global Winners being recognized by NASA.
Responsibilities of Local Leads:
- Coordinate local event logistics - Local Leads are responsible for providing, arranging and funding the logistics for their local event from their own resources, including venue, food, supplies, swag and prizes, as they may choose in their discretion. Local Leads are also responsible for considering accessibility and connectivity logistics in connection with.
- Recruit supporting teammates - Each Local Lead is responsible for arranging needed personnel to run their local event.
- Recruit participants from their community to join the local event.
- Follow NASA International Space Apps Challenge branding guidelines.
- Support participants through their entire hackathon journey and encourage project submission.
- Recruit Local Judges and complete Local Judging (see additional details below).
- Recruit Local Collaborators (optional but encouraged) - Each Local Lead is responsible for their own collaborator outreach efforts (see additional details below).
Applications are subject to screening and will be reviewed and approved or denied on a monthly basis. Application notices can be expected as follows, but this timeline is subject to change without notice:
- Applicants applying by March 15 may receive notice as early as March 31
- Applicants applying by April 15 may receive notice as early as April 30
- Applicants applying by May 15 may receive notice as early as May 31
- Applicants applying by June 15 may receive notice as early as June 30
While successful applications may be approved by the notification dates listed, the overall application deadline is June 15, 2023. HOWEVER, please do not wait until the deadline and do not delay your application, or another qualified applicant may be approved in your location. Typically, only one local event is approved per city. Your prior participation as a Space Apps Local Lead does not guarantee your selection as a 2023 Local Lead.
Local Lead Applications are individually reviewed by the Global Organizing Team on a first come first serve basis. Each application is evaluated against the following criteria.
Criteria for Local Leads:
- There is no approved Returning Local Lead in the city you are applying for. If there is already a Returning Local Lead your application will not be approved.
- You demonstrate and clearly communicate your ability to run/host a NASA Space Apps Local Event.
- You clearly communicate plans/initial ideas on how you will support and recruit participants.
- You clearly communicate plans/initial ideas on how you will source/recruit supporting teammates, Local Collaborators, and Local Judges.
- You clearly communicate that you are willing to commit time to organize an event, lead a support team, and support participants.
If you have any questions about this form or the event, please contact [email protected]. Thank you!
Before applying, ask yourself the following questions related to the responsibilities of Local Leads:
Event Logistics1. Can I invest the time necessary to run my local event?2. What other important logistical elements should I consider to make my event a success? (such as venue, food, accessibility, and connectivity)3. Do I want to hold an in-person or virtual local event in my location? (All participants of Space Apps participate at their own risk. NASA does not assume any liability for local Space Apps events, whether they be in-person gatherings or virtual local events )
Support Team1. Can I source/recruit partnerships, supporting teammates, Local Collaborators and Local Judges to help make my local event possible, as needed?
Participant Recruitment1. How can I increase the number of qualified participants in my event?2. How can I make sure my participants are successful at submitting a project?