Call for Applications: Climate Hackathon with the European Investment Bank and CARE

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Are you passionate about climate change and public policy? Do you want to apply your data analysis skills to real-world challenges? Join the Chair/CARE Climate Hackathon this autumn – an exciting two-part event where you’ll collaborate with peers, dig into exclusive survey data from the EIB, and present your findings to a panel of experts.

Who can apply?

Open to current students at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) and the École d’Affaires Publiques (EAP) at Sciences Po as well as students from the Canadian universities participating in the CARE Program (University of British Columbia, University of Guelph, University of Toronto). 

Context

The EIB Climate Survey is an annual survey conducted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to assess public attitudes and perceptions towards climate change and related policies across Europe and other regions. It gathers insights into how people view climate risks, their willingness to support or adopt sustainable practices, and their expectations from governments, businesses, and financial institutions.

The survey typically covers a range of topics, such as:

• Public concern about climate change
• Support for renewable energy and green technologies
• Perceptions of individual and collective climate responsibility
• Willingness to change behaviours (e.g., travel, diet, energy use)
• Views on climate-related investments and regulations

The findings contribute to the broader understanding of public sentiment on environmental issues across demographics and geographies and help to inform the public debate on climate challenges.

What to expect

During the launch of the hackathon, you’ll be assigned to work in small groups to explore the EIB Climate Survey data, along with complementary public datasets such as Eurostat. 

Each group will choose a research focus from a list of suggested themes, or choose to come up with a novel research question. The goal is to uncover new insights, identify patterns or correlations, and formulate evidence-based recommendations.

During the launch event, you’ll receive an introduction to the survey data from experts from the EIB and BVA Xsight, and have the opportunity to receive guidance from dedicated tutors. Your group will then work together to produce a brief analytical report, which you will present at the Closing Event.

All final reports will be published on CARE and the Chair’s websites, offering visibility for your work.

Schedule

Participation requires attendance at two key events:

• Hackathon Launch – 3 October 2025 from 5-7:30pm CET
• Final Presentations & Closing Event –23 October 2025 (exact time tbc)

In between these events, your team may also meet and work independently, with access to tutor support via a dedicated Zoom session.

Pre-requisites 

To be eligible, you should have a working knowledge of quantitative research methods, such as statistics, econometrics, or data analysis. Please provide relevant academic transcripts outlining your experience in these subjects with your application.

Benefits of participation

Participating in the Climate Hackathon offers several advantages:

• Work with rich and exclusive datasets from the EU’s Climate Bank
• Receive a financial compensation of €100 per person upon successful completion
• Gain hands-on experience in applied quantitative research
• Enhance your CV with a real-world, interdisciplinary project
• Receive mentorship from domain experts
• Expand your academic and professional network 

How to apply

Applications for the hackathon have now closed. Those who have applied will receive a response by end of September indicating whether they have been selected.

If you have any questions, please contact the team at the Chair at sdctchair.info@sciencespo.fr. 

Consent to filming and media use

Please note that the EIB may film and/or photograph parts of the hackathon. The resulting materials — including video footage, editorial content, and social media posts — may be used for public communication and could appear on the EIB’s and the Chair’s websites, social media channels, and other public platforms.

By participating, you agree to the possibility of being included in these materials.

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