OpSciHack 2026
Less Waste, More Discovery
Open Tools for Sustainable, Efficient and Reproducible Research
OpSciHack 2026 is a two-day open science hackathon organised by early-career researchers from Open Innovation in Life Sciences (OILS). On 3–4 October 2026, up to 40 participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds will work in interdisciplinary teams to develop practical solutions for more sustainable, efficient and reproducible research.
Under the theme “Less Waste, More Discovery”, teams will tackle practical open science challenges. These may address issues such as environmental waste in research, underused data, duplicated effort, and knowledge loss when negative results or failed protocols go unshared. Final challenge topics will be announced closer to the event.
Event at a glance
Participation: Free of charge; application and confirmation required. Light meals, snacks and refreshments will be provided throughout the event.
Who can apply? You do not need to be a researcher or have a coding background to apply. We welcome students and professionals from all disciplines who are interested in open science and collaborative problem-solving.
Team size: 3–4 people. You can apply with an existing team or as an individual—we will help you meet new teammates and form a team.
Technical level: No hard coding required. Depending on the challenge and approach, projects may involve data analysis, configuration files or shared code repositories. As an event partner, Lovable will provide free credits for AI-assisted prototyping and vibe coding.
Partners:
Center for Reproducible Science and Research Synthesis
Additional partners and contributors will be announced as they are confirmed.
Organisers:
Open Innovation in Life Sciences
Spots are limited. Apply to hack!
Refundable attendance deposit: Participation is free. If you are offered a place, you will be asked to pay a refundable CHF 20 deposit to confirm your participation. The deposit will be refunded in full after you attend the event. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows may result in the deposit being retained, except in cases of illness or other unforeseen circumstances.
About OILS
Open Innovation in Life Sciences (OILS) is a Zurich-based non-profit association led by and for early-career researchers under the umbrella of Life Science Zurich. OILS creates opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange, open innovation, professional development and collaboration across academia, industry and the wider life-science ecosystem.
If you have any questions, please email us at open@lifescience.uzh.ch