HACK 4 SAGES: Digital Twins in Astrobiology – call for students and mentors - DEADLINE 23.02.2026
HACK-4-SAGES is a four-day hybrid hackathon dedicated to digital twins in astrobiology - an interdisciplinary field that addresses one of humanity’s most profound questions: how did life originate on Earth, and how widespread might it be in the universe?
Astrobiology combines astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and computational modeling. It investigates the origins of life, the conditions that allow life to emerge and persist, methods for detecting biosignatures, and the potential habitability of planets and moons beyond Earth. This interdisciplinary nature makes astrobiology one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of modern science, and an ideal domain for digital twin approaches.
Participating teams will tackle one of three scientific challenges:
- Origins of Life
- Life Detection & Biosignatures
- Exoplanet Habitability
The event will take place 9 - 13 March 2026 and can be joined online or in person at host institutions.
Participation is free of charge. You can join either online or in person at 1 of 12 partner institutions, including the Warsaw University of Technology (exact location TBC). A maximum of 20 places will be available for on-site participation. Lunch and refreshments will be provided on site.
Organizers and supporters
HACK-4-SAGES is led by ETH Zürich with partners - Warsaw University of Technology and Gdańsk University of Technology. The project is supported by the ENHANCE Alliance and co-funded by the European Union.
Who can participate?
Current bachelor’s students may form teams of 2-4 members. Each team must submit a concise project proposal. A total of 60 teams will be selected (20 per category).
Mentors
PhD candidates and academic staff may participate as mentors. Mentoring will be a short, high-impact role - you will guide teams, share expertise, and will be able to expand your international academic network.
Why join?
- International collaboration on real-world scientific challenges,
- Guidance from experienced mentors across science and technology.
- Grand prize: a trip to ETH Zürich, including the opportunity to present the project in front of world-renowned astrobiology researchers.
Important dates
| Date | Event |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Submission deadline |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Announcement of selected teams |
| 2 Mar 2026 | Online orientation session |
|
9-13 Mar 2026 |
Hackathon project days |
How to apply
Visit hack4sages.org to access the application form. Participants should prepare a concise project proposal.
Mentors may register or contact the organising team at: info@hack4sages.org
Questions? Write at info@hack4sages.org.
Local organizers
- Karolina Popowska, MSc, Engineer – Doctoral School of Warsaw University of Technology; Faculty of Automotive and Construction Machinery Engineering,
- Prof. Georgy Kornakov – Faculty of Physics,
- Prof. Dariusz Plewczyński – Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Wojciech Dudek, PhD, Engineer – Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology,
- Wojciech Dudek, PhD, Eng. – Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology.