A ‘Nerd Sleepover’—and Much More

/ 29 October 2024 /

It’s 23 hours into the world’s premier hackathon for women and underrepresented genders in tech, and tables covered in energy drinks, crumpled disposable coffee cups and discarded meals stretch across the Reckord Armory’s main gym.

Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller talks at Technica with the South Brunswick, N.J.-based team of (from left) Bhavya Tanugula ’28, South Brunswick High School senior Anika Thakur and Esha Vigneswaran ’28. The trio developed an app called “Locked In,” which aims to help students focus on homework by blocking users from accessing distracting websites and providing warnings to users when their eye movements stray from their computer screens. Photos by Riley N. Sims — Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller talks at Technica with the South Brunswick, N.J.-based team of (from left) Bhavya Tanugula ’28, South Brunswick High School senior Anika Thakur and Esha Vigneswaran ’28. The trio developed an app called “Locked In,” which aims to help students focus on homework by blocking users from accessing distracting websites and providing warnings to users when their eye movements stray from their computer screens. Credit: Riley N. Sims

The bouncy pop music has stopped, leaving only the scattered chatter of teammates and the clicking of computer keys. One student rubs the bridge of her nose and squints at her screen through pursed fingers while the other hand frantically spams the backspace key, racing the deadline.

“It doesn’t have to be perfect, just submit what you have,” a voice says into the microphone.

Technica 2024, a technology hacking event for women and nonbinary folks, marked its 10th anniversary at the Reckord Armory with more than 1,700 registered competitors.

And in two more minutes on Sunday morning, the 10th annual Technica was over in a flurry of just-submitted, newly created apps and websites showcasing the creativity and computer coding skills of its more than 1,700 competitors.

The record turnout—more than double last year’s registration—was just another sign of the growth of the University of Maryland student-hosted event that draws in-person and virtual attendees from all over the world.

“This is a space where just everyone feels welcome,” said Mary Redpath ’25, who was one of Technica’s two executive directors, along with Erica Herrera Huaman ’25. “They don't feel intimidated by other people, and they're not around anyone who might make them feel small.”

Technica 2024, a technology hacking event for women and nonbinary folks, marked its 10th anniversary at the Reckord Armory with more than 1,700 registered competitors. Credit: Riley N. Sims

They worked with campus groups like Startup Shell and the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing (I4C) to make the event even more accessible and expand its offerings, which included an alumni panel, workshops, a Terps Esports competition, meetups and a talent show.

I4C, a collaborator since 2019, hosted the event’s research track, in which hackers engage with faculty and graduate students on real-world research projects.

“When the Maryland Center for Women in Computing and Technica both started in 2014, the computing community looked radically different than it does today,” said I4C Associate Director Kate Atchison. “Technica’s student organizers have done amazing work over the last 10 years to grow the event into what it is now.”

This year’s theme, Wonder Awaits, was inspired by the whimsical world of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Redpath and Herrera Huaman said they wanted to replicate the sense of wonder they felt when they attended their first Technica hackathon in 2021 and to bring new attendees on an adventure.

Josie Daw, 32, traveled from South Korea to participate at Technica in person after three years of participating virtually. “Even joining remotely, it made me feel like I was part of a much bigger community, and it really made me feel energized about doing tech,” she said

The team members met virtually at Technica in 2022, and a flourishing long-distance friendship was born. Last year, one of Daw’s teammates even officiated her wedding. This year, the group developed an app that resembles Hinge for the housing market. It will allow users to swipe left and right on properties based on their needs.

From left, Josie Daw, Khloe Pointer, Yena Paek and Anna Pincus (not pictured) work on an app called “Listings” to help people find housing in an easy and accessible way. Daw participated in Technica virtually in the past and traveled from South Korea for this year’s event. Credit: Riley N. Sims

Daw was so inspired by Technica that she created a hackathon in South Korea for women and underrepresented genders: Seoul Tech Impact, which promotes social good with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. She was named one of the 100 Technologists to Watch by Women Who Code in 2023.

“Even if you're the only woman in your company or the only girl in your computer science class, you're not alone,” Daw said.

Among the more than 700 competitors from UMD were four sophomore computer science majors building a nutrition and wellness app for women on their menstrual cycle. The project plans to provide women with nutrition recommendations to regulate hormone, stress and energy levels and help with cramps.

The team of Raiya Shah, Kaavya Radhakrishnan, Adithi Vardham and Tanya Grover said they found a feeling of community at Technica.

“I see people that look like me, so I feel like I’m included because in class I don’t feel that way,” Vardham said.

Redpath and Herrera Huaman said the event remains true to its original spirit: to be a space where someone can walk in knowing nothing about coding and leave with new skills, friends and opportunities.

“It’s still fundamentally a ‘nerd sleepover,’ just one that’s grown to empower participants across the globe,” Herrera Huaman said.

Written by Ruby Siefken ’26. Georgia Jiang contributed to this article.