The Biodiversity Hackathon has found its standout team—one that turned an urgent ecological threat into a beautiful solution. Bloombuoy rose to the top with their floating insect "houseboats" that double as elegant water purifiers, proving that biodiversity can be both functional and stunning.
Over the course of two intensive weeks, students tackled biodiversity challenges head-on-from urban wildlife to aquatic species under threat. But this year brought something entirely new: for the first time, participants could bring their ideas to life through a hands-on workshop at the FabLab.With guidance from FabLab experts, students transformed messy sketches into physical prototypes using laser cutters, 3D printers, and a lot of creativity. "We walked in with these really rough sketches and dreams of what it could look like… and then magic happened," said Chloe Cassens of team Bloombuoy. The result? A showcase finale where teams didn't just pitch their ideas-they held them in their hands.
Floating Habitats for Healthier Waterways
Inspired by the increasing presence of algae blooms in Dutch waterways, Bloombuoy set out to find a solution. "We started wondering: what can we actually do with all this algae?" said teammate Maud Vink. After discovering the complexity of algae harvesting, the team shifted focus-designing modular floating platforms that use native plants to filter algae naturally, while offering a safe habitat for aquatic insects like dragonflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies.Crafted from compostable hempcrete and coated with beeswax, the rafts are both biodegradable and low-maintenance. By mimicking natural wetlands, Bloombuoy bridges beauty and biodiversity, showing how small interventions can make ripples in large ecosystems.
Wild Ideas That Wowed the Jury
Beyond Bloombuoy's winning concept, the hackathon showcased a wide spectrum of creativity and commitment to protecting local biodiversity:
SmartHoles - Sensor-equipped hedgehog tunnels that double as a data tool for biodiversity reporting.
The BatPod - A bat house with built-in mosquito repeller, promoting natural pest control.
Mission Obs - A gamified nature app that gets kids (and adults) spotting species in their own back gardens.
Species Spotter - Campus-based species logging with built-in challenges and biodiversity facts.Hihang Hoheng - A pond system to protect juvenile eels during their most vulnerable growth stage.
I AM HOME - Modular log-based habitats that invite insects, birds, and wildflowers into urban spaces.
Collaboration for a Greener Future
The Biodiversity Hackathon was organised by WUR Student Challenges and Enactus Wageningen with the support of University Fund Wageningen, and brought to life with the help of local experts and innovators. From policy-aligned pond systems to app-based conservation games, the event showed that students aren't just imagining better futures-they're building them.As jury member Samuel Rapolu (Startlife) put it:
