MS-CC Hackathon at West Virginia State University
April 3-4, 2026
Note: Registration is open to all students. Travel support (i.e., mileage, hotel, dinner per diem) is only available to students within a 250-mile radius of West Virginia State University.
Securing Air Quality Data in Distributed Sensor Networks
The MS-CC Environmental Science Hackathon at West Virginia State University (WVSU) invites students to tackle real-world sustainability and rural resilience challenges using data science, AI, and open-source tools. Led in partnership with ESIIL, this hackathon challenges students to think like cybersecurity professionals responsible for protecting real-world data systems that communities rely on.
Participants will work with data from a distributed network of low-cost air quality sensors. These types of networks are increasingly used in rural and under-resourced regions, including parts of West Virginia, where traditional monitoring infrastructure is limited. Public agencies, farmers, schools, and residents may rely on this data to make health, environmental, and operational decisions.
However, these systems are vulnerable to subtle cyber threats. Sensors can report faulty data, APIs can be misused, and decision systems can be misled by incomplete or manipulated information.
In this hackathon, students will investigate how those failures happen and design ways to detect and prevent them.
Across two days, students will:
- Learn how to access and analyze real-world air quality data using APIs and time-series workflows;
- Work in teams to investigate how cyber and data integrity threats affect distributed sensor networks;
- Design and test a sensor trust model that detects unreliable or compromised data sources;
- Propose practical cybersecurity defenses to improve the resilience of environmental monitoring systems;
- Present their solutions, with awards recognizing technical rigor, defensive strategy, and clarity of reasoning.
This hackathon builds capacity for the future cybersecurity and data science workforce by placing students in realistic scenarios where systems must function under uncertainty. Participants will gain hands-on experience securing distributed data pipelines similar to those used in public health, environmental monitoring, and IoT systems.
Top projects may be highlighted at MS-CC events and connected to future opportunities, including internships, research collaborations, and continued mentorship.
Event Schedule
Day 1
| Time | Agenda |
|---|---|
| 8:30–9:00 AM | Breakfast & Registration |
| 9:00-9:15 AM | Welcome and Introductions |
| 9:15-9:30 AM | Hackathon theme: Cybersecurity and Trust in Distributed Sensor Networks |
| 9:30-9:45 AM | Overview of Air Quality Data Systems and Real-World Use Cases |
| 9:45-10:00 AM | Mentor Introductions & Expectations |
| 10:00-10:30 AM | Ice Breaker & Team Formation |
| 10:30-11:15 AM |
Technical Setup Tutorial: – Accessing the air quality API – Loading and exploring time-series data – Basic visualization and anomaly detection |
| 11:15-11:45 AM | Understanding the Challenge: Detecting a Real Air Quality Event |
| 11:45-12:15 PM | Team Ideation and Analysis Planning |
| 12:15-2:30 PM | Work Block / Mentors (Working Lunch) |
| 2:30-3:30 PM |
Checkpoint #1: Teams Present: – How they are detecting the event – Initial observations about sensor reliability |
| 3:30-3:45 PM | Break |
| 3:45-4:45 PM |
Lightning Talk: – How cyber attacks affect sensor networks – Common data integrity failures |
| 4:45-5:00 PM |
Day 1 Wrap-Up: – Team stand-ups – Plan for trust model development on Day 2 |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner |
Day 2
| Time | Agenda |
|---|---|
| 9:00-9:30 AM | Breakfast Recap |
| 9:30-11:30 AM |
Work Block: – Build a sensor trust score – Evaluate reliability across sensors |
| 11:30-12:00 PM |
Checkpoint #2: Teams share: – Trust logic or scoring approach – Any anomalies or compromised data detected |
| 12:00-1:00 PM |
Final Work Sprint (Working Lunch) – Stress-test trust logic with simulated bad data – Develop defensive recommendations |
| 1:00 PM |
Project Submission: – Code repository – Short presentation or demo |
| 1:00-2:00 PM | Final Team Presentations (10–15 minutes each) |
| 2:00-2:30 PM |
Judging and Closing Remarks: – Technical approach – Trust model effectiveness – Defensive strategy – Clarity of explanation |
Hotel Recommendation
Should you require overnight accommodations, the following hotel is within close proximity to West Virginia State University:
Sleep Inn & Suites Cross Lanes – South Charleston
15 Goff Crossing Dr.
Cross Lanes, WV 25313
Please contact the hotel directly to inquire about their daily rates and book your reservation.
Parking
Here is the link to the West Virginia State University campus map. Buildings numbered 5 and 36 have been designated as the venues for the Hackathon. For your convenience, parking lots L and M, adjacent to Building #5, are available. If these parking areas reach capacity, use parking lots C, E, and O as alternatives.
It is worth noting that although parking lots S1 and T2 are adjacent to Building #36, they offer only a limited number of parking spaces. Consequently, participants assigned to Building #36 should consider parking lots T1, R, and G as viable options.
Should you require further assistance or additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to robinsaj@wvstateu.edu or reginald.patterson@wvstateu.edu. If you need immediate assistance, call (304) 766-3181 or dial 911 in case of emergency.
Reimbursements
We will be able to reimburse reasonable mileage (within a 250-mile radius of West Virginia State University) and hotel expenses for MS-CC participants who are located more than 50 miles from the university.
- Before the Workshop: Complete the MS-CC Travel Support Acceptance Form by March 27 as part of the registration process.
- After the Workshop: Participants will receive instructions for submitting their reimbursement requests in the post-workshop email on April 4.
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Registration
Join the MS-CC Hackathon at West Virginia State University on April 3-4, 2026.