Members from THRIVE Project participated in the University of Queensland (UQ) Biodiversity & Nature Hackathon, hosted by the Sustainable Innovation Club at UQ. The event brought together a diverse group of students, innovators, and sustainability advocates to develop creative, real-world solutions for environmental challenges—particularly those related to biodiversity and nature conservation.
The hackathon provided a vibrant platform for exploring social entrepreneurship within a tertiary education setting, echoing many of the principles behind the THRIVE Project’s own Thrivability Matters Olympiad (TMO) initiative. This alignment drew considerable interest from participants, especially regarding how a similar innovation-focused initiative could be adapted for high school students. While hackathons typically focus on rapid problem-solving and prototyping, the TMO takes a broader and more inclusive approach—linking with the international Olympiad movement, with which THRIVE is actively engaged through its partnerships with Brisbane City Council and Brisbane Olympic Games 2032.
During the event, we discussed the possibility of building a school-based version of the hackathon. Discussions between students and guests highlighted how experiences and networks could support future sponsorships and community growth for the TMO programme. The hackathon also opened doors to several new contacts across the sustainability and innovation spaces, reinforcing the importance of cross-sector collaboration in driving systemic change. We look forward to continuing these conversations and developing a collaborative, multi-level approach to youth innovation that nurtures real-world impact—from school communities to global networks.
Dr. Morris Fideli with Students from UQ.
Source: THRIVE Project
