News

Upper School students from AP Computer Science A and Competitive Computing classes recently participated in Boston Museum of Science’s inaugural High School Hackathon. The event was led by Javid Muhammedali, CEO and founder of BioMedict Inc., together with Museum staff. BioMedict Inc. develops AI-powered tools that use biometric data from wearables to support objective pain management and mental health—an inspiring real-world example of innovation at work.

The Hackathon began with an introduction to AI and its role in urban planning. Students then worked in pairs to design grant proposals for urban greenspaces, using a Python-based AI tool to gather and analyze relevant data. Students were encouraged by the number of girls participating, excited by the practical applications of computing, and relieved to discover that coding skills could be used creatively—not just for writing lines of code, but for imagining solutions to community challenges.

After the Hackathon, students visited the “Exploring AI” exhibit, where they encountered dozens of examples of AI in action. Highlights included watching Boston Dynamics’ robot Spot use AI to navigate stairs, generating multi-version AI images on a large interactive display, and successfully tricking the Remix exhibit. Students were especially struck by learning how AI is used in fields such as sports analytics—for example, combining video of a hockey player with AI-powered performance tracking.

The visit concluded in the Engineering & Design exhibit, where hands-on exploration brought

together coding, engineering, and creativity. Students particularly enjoyed designing custom weights for a virtual water-drop challenge, watching the exhibit instantly digitize their physical designs and test them in a simulated environment. They left with a deeper appreciation for the many ways engineering and computer science intersect—and for the exciting possibilities ahead as they continue their studies. Martha Haddad P ‘22, Chair of the Computer Science Department, accompanied the students along with Loren Cerami P ‘30, Grade 12 Dean. Haddad reflected: “Given that this was their first hackathon, the students were worried about their ability to handle the challenge. Once the event started, you could see their

confidence grow; they crafted great proposals and felt proud of their work. Once we were back at school, I could see the effect the experience had on their confidence in tackling hard problems in class.”