High school students dove into the world of coding and artificial intelligence (AI) at the second annual Thunderbird Hackathon, held earlier this month. Sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories and Explora’s X Studio, the event challenged teams to create machine learning models predicting crime incidents using real data from Albuquerque’s open-data initiative.
O.J. Ukpedinjagba, left, worked with teammate Sowmya Sankaran to solve a problem during the 2024 Thunderbird Hacks event, sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories. (Photo by Craig Fritz)
“At Thunderbird Hacks, we empower students to use technology to make their community safer,” said Catherine Appleby, a Sandia computer scientist and co-creator of the hackathon. Participants gained hands-on experience in Python programming, machine learning, and data analysis — skills increasingly vital in today’s job market.
Sandia’s STEM outreach program coordinator Deb Menke emphasized the event’s broader impact: “Engaging students in these discussions enhances their understanding of technology’s real-world applications and encourages them to consider careers in fields that contribute to public safety.”
The hackathon also celebrated the 2025 International Year of Quantum with QuanTime NM, a parallel event offering hands-on quantum learning for children. Organized by Sandia, the Computer Science Alliance, and Albuquerque Public Schools, QuanTime NM ran concurrently, fostering early interest in cutting-edge science and technology.
The event highlighted the growing role of AI and quantum computing in addressing community challenges while inspiring the next generation of tech innovators.
