"From participating and fortunately winning Planet Hack 2022, words cannot describe how much I learned from this event. The biggest takeaway that still echoes in my life today is how to get from nothing to something pragmatic and creative with the resources you have around you.

The hardest thing in life is independently solving an issue, it is a lifelong journey. When I did it last year the problem was very open, there was no "right" solution, it allowed freedom unimagined in the past but also the issue of uncertainty and confusion - which was the flip side of the coin that I struggled the most with in my STEM career.

However, the resources that were provided were sufficient for everyone but it was how they were discovered and used that made the difference. I believe Planet Hack provided me the chance to understand how to be independent and not just follow a formula book. I got to be creative and experiment with some new software that I wouldn't have known this early without joining Planet Hack. Most importantly, the interaction with university professors were very memorable and they gave very good insights. This also the chance to learn how to effectively ask questions, which is also a lifelong skill as asking the right questions demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Therefore, Planet Hack was a great experience in my student life."

- Hillary T. – Year 12 student

"Collaborating on Planet Hack with the EiM group has been a great experience for the Australian National University. Starting with our initial pilot program at Dulwich Beijing College in 2022 and expanding to multiple schools within the EiM network in 2023, the annual Planet Hack stands as a significant achievement, showcasing the strength of collaborative educational initiatives.

We are so proud to collaborate with EiM and appreciate the dynamic approach they bring to their student's education. We were most impressed by the level of enthusiastic engagement exhibited by the hundreds of students, aged 11 to 18, who took part in the two-day challenge. Witnessing their commitment, creativity, and problem-solving skills was inspiring.

Dr. Rachael Rodney-Harris, who participated in this year's event, noted that it has been meaningful to engage in an event that can inspire and motivate students’ learning experiences and enrich their educational journey.

The success of this collaboration, run in hybrid mode, demonstrates the importance of international partnerships in education, providing students with diverse experiences and equipping them for a dynamic, globally interconnected future."

- Dr Rachael Rodney-Harris, Agricultural Innovation Training and Education Initiative Lead, Lecturer: Agriculture and Food, College of Science, Australian National University

"As a small school, and one of the newest in the Dulwich family, we don't always have the opportunity to host large events or partner with larger organisations. Equally, it is not always feasible for us to travel to other locations to join in. We often look on with jealousy as larger schools run event after event! Planet Hack was an incredible opportunity for our students as it meant they could be involved in a high-quality and engaging hackathon without any of the aforementioned limitations. Hosting it hybrid meant they could access the expertise of others during the workshop sessions and reduced the pressure on our smaller staff body. I particularly liked the 'Planet' aspect of the hackathon. Having specific links to Global Citizenship and to the Sustainable Development Goals gave the challenges a real-life connection that made it far more engaging for our students than some other hackathons they may have attended in the past. The potential for it in the future is huge; as we grow, I can see the competition growing, too. We are already planning to invite colleagues and students from other nearby schools to join us in next year's Planet Hack!"

- Amelia King, Director of Education Technology, Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi

“It means so much to our EiM family of schools. Planet Hack is an awesome demonstration of the purpose and potential of our ANU EiM partnership"

- Lucien Giordano, Group Director of International Outreach and Alumni Engagement

“Thank you once more for all the time and engagement with the students over the last two days, the feedback we received was extremely positive from across all five schools"

- Yosef Karasik, Director of EdTech and Innovation, Dulwich College Beijing