about this event
Build it. Break it. Pitch it. A free weekend hackathon where teams go from problem to pitching using EEG neurotechnology to win prizes.
SURGE Neurohackathon: Build it. Break it. Pitch it. September 18–20, 2026 | Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
SURGE Neuro-Hackathon is a free, weekend-long, in-person hackathon where students from across Nova Scotia team up to tackle real-world problems using EEG neurotechnology. Teams are formed on-site — just show up ready to collaborate. You'll choose a problem to solve, use design thinking to build a working solution, and pitch it to a panel by the end of the weekend.
What you'll do: Over the course of the weekend, you'll: Get placed into an interdisciplinary team of fellow students, formed at the start of the event. Choose a problem to solve. Apply design thinking to shape your approach. Use real EEG neurotechnology to build a working prototype. Pitch your solution to a panel of judges.
Themes: Projects can fall under one of three themes: Machine Learning Applications, Hardware
Prizes: $500+ in prizes for winning teams.
Who can join: Any student currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia is welcome to participate — all disciplines, all skill levels, no prior neurotech experience required, but coding experience can be helpful. Students from other schools are also welcome to register. Science is for everyone!
Logistics: When: September 18–20, 2026 (exact schedule to be sent closer to the event). Where: SURGE, Life Sciences Centre, Room 02660, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. Format: In person. Meals: Provided throughout the weekend. Cost: Free. Registration: Open now through the day of the event. Questions: surge@dal.ca
tracks
Machine Learning Applications
Projects that apply machine learning to EEG or neurotechnology use cases.
Hardware
Projects focused on hardware using EEG neurotechnology.
schedule
Neuro-Hackathon
Weekend hackathon begins — exact schedule to be sent closer to the event.
◍ SURGE, Life Sciences Centre, Room 02660, Dalhousie UniversityNeuro-Hackathon
Teams choose a problem, apply design thinking, and build working prototypes using EEG neurotechnology.
◍ SURGE, Life Sciences Centre, Room 02660, Dalhousie UniversityNeuro-Hackathon
Teams pitch their solutions to a panel of judges.
◍ SURGE, Life Sciences Centre, Room 02660, Dalhousie Universitytickets
| Ticket | Price | Fee | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Free | Free | Available | Free registration for the Neuro-Hackathon, open through the day of the event. |
prizes
| Place | Prize | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Winning teams | $500+ in prizes | $500+ |