CodeToCure 2.0

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IEEE WIE ESPRIT SBAG and IEEE CIS ESPRIT SBC joined forces again for the second edition of “Code to Cure”: a hackathon dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare through the practical use of Data Science. The event spanned 16 hours, with 12 of them dedicated to the hackathon, in which participants were encouraged to craft innovative and data-driven solutions for this edition’s challenge: Building a Machine Learning model that can detect Renal Failure from ultrasounds. This challenge, hosted on Zindi, was especially motivating to work on as it addressed a real and pressing need in the healthcare field with solutions that could turn into adaptable diagnostic and monitoring tools.

In the weeks leading up to Code to Cure 2.0, we organized two technical workshops designed to equip participants with skills to tackle the challenge with ease :
Kaggle 101 Workshop : hosted by Mr. Hafedh Hichri 
Deep Neural Networks Workshop : hosted by Mr. Hamza Mellouli 

The event began at 5:00 PM with an energizing opening ceremony, during which the C2C, CIS and WIE Chairs took the stage to welcome participants with keynote speeches, setting an inspiring tone for what’s ahead. Our event partners stepped forward right after, highlighting their support and sharing their expertise. Following Iftar and a variety of team-building activities, participants had the chance to attend sessions hosted by industry professionals :
Pr. Hatem Bouzaiene, professor of Oncological Surgery at the Salah Azaiez Institute who brought depth with his medical perspective on the competition, and Mr. Wajih Letaief, a knowledgeable mentor with a wealth of guidance to offer, who emphasized the importance of technological advances in the healthcare field. We also made sure to walk everyone through the process of using Zindi: the platform on which the hackathon was hosted with a 20-minute info session provided by our team.

 

Once the hackathon officially began at 10:00 PM, the energy shifted from relaxation to total focus: Participants, whether solo, duos or trios, dove into brainstorming ideas and exploring the dataset provided. As part of our efforts to maintain a warm and welcoming atmosphere, we carefully planned coffee and musical breaks to help participants recharge and connect, along with a casual podcast session where everyone felt comfortable sharing personal updates and stories. Additionally, everyone was pleasantly surprised with the mini-challenge announcement : during the second coffee break at 1:30 AM, participants received a zip file decryption task via email which added a playful twist to the night. Once the code got cracked and the password was retrieved, the room erupted in confetti and laughter lifting everyone’s spirit during the long hours of work.

 

As the hackathon came to an end, at 10:00 AM of the following day, the leading teams on the Zindi dashboard had to pitch their solutions. Each team took the stage walking us through their approaches, with the judging panel offering valuable insight and feedback and encouraging their upcoming professional and academic endeavors. After further discussion, the top three winning teams were announced, recognizing their well-thought, carefully-executed approaches to solving the issue. In addition, two runner-up teams were acknowledged with encouragement prizes for their strong effort and potential.

"Code to Cure 2.0" wrapped up with a spirit of celebration and pride, not only for the winners but for every participant who dedicated time, skill, and passion to the challenge. The joint efforts of IEEE CIS ESPRIT SBC and IEEE WIE ESPRIT SBAG successfully created a meaningful, uplifting experience that brought learning, competition, and community together in an impactful way.

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