If you think coding and the environment don’t mix, then you need to think again. Beginner and expert programmers can make a big difference when it comes to solving environmental problems with tech and making a positive change. If you are a young programmer or coding enthusiast, who is passionate about sustainability and believes that computer science is one of the solutions to the climate crisis,  GreenCode Bootcamp is for you! Apply by April 1, 2023.

 GreenCode Bootcamp: Sustainability through Technology is a free virtual coding bootcamp on sustainability and climate awareness for high school and university students, facilitated by experienced international mentors. Dedicated to Earth Day 2023, GreenCode Bootcamp aims to raise awareness about environmental issues and sustainable practices and to help participants learn how to develop effective coding solutions (environmental apps) through independent and collaborative work and project-based assignments. 

Format:

 GreenCode Bootcamp is designed for high school and university students.

It lasts 4 weeks between April 3 and April 28 and combines weekly virtual workshops, training sessions, practice assignments, and group projects, facilitated by experienced international mentors. GreenCode Bootcamp also includes supplementary virtual public talks by experts in the field of sustainability and environmental technology, which are open to the general public. 

The main focus of GreenCode Bootcamp is on developing group projects (environmental apps) that address real-world environmental problems, such as climate change, pollution, and waste management. Participants will work in teams on developing their group projects and will receive guidance and support from the bootcamp mentors. 

The bootcamp will conclude with a project showcase session, where teams will present their group projects. A panel of judges will select the best project(s). Presentations of the winning projects will be displayed on the website of the American Center in Moscow, and its/their creators will be awarded gifts.

Requirements:

GreenCode Bootcamp is designed for high school and university students. 

Applicants should meet the following requirements: 

• Minimum level of English — Intermediate

• High school or university student

• Minimum coding skills: 

  • Intermediate knowledge of:

    • Java (or  C++, Python or similar)

    • HTML

    • CSS

  • Beginner knowledge of:

    • Javascript

• A computer or a laptop

• Interest in the environment and environmental protection

• Motivation to participate in the bootcamp

• Ability to work in a team

Participants will be selected based on how they meet these requirements.

Mentors:

Samah Majadla -- a Product Manager at Tanzu Platform Services at VMware. She came to the United States in 2009 to attend Mount Holyoke College, graduating in 2013 with a B.A. in Computer Science and Art; in 2018 she received her M.S. in Computer Science from Eastern Michigan University. 

Cole Wyman — a Software Engineer. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in Materials Science & Engineering and Computer Science. He is experienced in frontend and mobile web development. 

Application:

Deadline for applications is 23:59 MSK on April 1, 2023. To apply, please fill out the registration form at the bottom of this announcement.

Participation in the bootcamp is free and competitive, the number if places is limited. Participants will be selected based on their applications and how they meet the requirements. Applicants who are selected to take part in GreenCode Bootcamp, will be notified about their acceptance into the bootcamp via email (from amcenter@amc.ru) by April 2, 2023.

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Outline:

Each week includes one instructor-led workshop (on Zoom), one training session (on Zoom), and one optional supplementary talk (on YouTube), with an additional introductory meeting on Week 1 (on Zoom) and one project presentation session at the end of Week 4 (on Zoom).

Working schedule:

Week 1: Introduction to Environmental Technology

April 3 at 18:00-19:00 MSK — Introductory meeting

April 4 at 19:00-20:30 MSK — Workshop: “Product Thinking”. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to various topics in the realm of Product & Product Management. They will leave with an understanding of how to take an idea and generate a Minimum Viable Product for it. Topics include: Agile Methodology, Lean Management, Problem Statements, User Personas, Backlogs and more.

April 5 at 19:00-20:00 — Training session with mentors. Participants will divide into teams and generate: a problem statement, primary persona, MVP, and backlog items.

Week 2: Environmental Data and Analytics

April 11 at 19:00-20:30 — Workshop: “Introduction to Database Design”. In this workshop, participants will learn about the fundamentals of relational database design. They will learn how to take their product idea and create a database model for it. Topics include Relational Database Design, Entity-Relationship Diagrams.

April 12 at 19:00-20:00 — Training session with mentors. Participants will continue working in their teams and develop an Entity Relationship diagram for their project. They will also have a chance to work further on the items from the previous workshop and training session.

Week 3: Developing Environmental Solutions

April 18 at 19:00-20:30 — Workshop: “Introduction to Backend Development”. Participants will get a high-level overview of what backend systems look like, learn about REST APIs, and begin to build out the backend of a To-Do List application.

April  19 at 19:00-20:00 — Training session with mentors. Participants will continue working in their teams and will use SpringBoot and Java to begin implementing the backend of their project. This may include using the data model they generated in Week 2, and/or a REST API.

Week 4: Showcasing Environmental Projects

April 25 at 19:00-20:30 — Workshop: “Introduction to Frontend Development”. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of front-end web development. They will build a simple website that connects with the REST API and backend that was created in the previous workshop.

April 26 at 19:00-20:00 — Training session with mentors. Participants will continue working in their teams and building upon the work from the previous workshops; they will begin creating a frontend portion (website) for their project. This working session will connect all of the work they have done throughout the bootcamp.

April 28 at 19:00-21:00 — Final Project Showcase. Participants present their projects to a panel of judges and an audience of peers, with the winning projects selected based on their impact, innovation, and practicality.

Photo by Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash