We are thrilled to announce that a team of BSc-DSBI Year 3 students has emerged as the winners of the prestigious Ernst & Young Open Science Data Challenge 2024. The team, consisting of Lau Ngai Sang, Chan Ka Fai, and Sin King Hin, competed against participants from around the world to address pressing environmental issues using data analytic techniques.

The competition consisted of three phases. In Phase 1, teams were tasked with developing an AI model to detect “damaged” and “undamaged” coastal infrastructure after Hurricane Maria. Out of over 1,800 teams, our team secured an impressive eighth place, surpassing renowned universities and companies.

Moving into Phase 2, our BSc-DSBI team prepared a comprehensive proposal outlining the implementation of their Phase 1 model for local beneficiaries. Their proposal covered damage assessments, socioeconomic impacts, and climate change risks. Only the top 3 teams were selected for the Phase 3 finals, and our team successfully secured a spot to present their models and proposal at the 2024 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium in Athens, Greece, from July 7 to 12, 2024.

In Phase 3, all finalists presented their models and proposals, aiming to convince the judges that their data-analytic techniques could best detect the damage and undamaged coastal infrastructures. Thanks to their exceptional performance, our BSc-DSBI team was announced as the winner in this competition.

We are immensely proud of the remarkable achievements of the BSc-DSBI team. Their success showcases their expertise on a global platform and their dedication to making meaningful contributions to society. Please join us in extending our heartfelt congratulations to Lau Ngai Sang, Chan Ka Fai, and Sin King Hin once again. We have great confidence in their ability to continue shining and making a difference. For more information on the competition, please visit https://challenge.ey.com/2024 and https://www.2024.ieeeigarss.org/.