The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), is excited to announce its 2012 Public Health Challenge; Now Trending - #Health In My Community. The Challenge asks participants to create a web-based application using open-source Twitter data that will automatically deliver a list of the top-five trending illnesses from a specified geographic region in a twenty-four hour period.

This challenge, complete with cash prize, is the ideal opportunity for the nation’s brightest computer science and technology students, professors or individuals to test their abilities with real world issues.

We’re looking for:

• Computer Phenoms • Technology Students • At-home Coders • Problem Solvers

The Challenge:

At a recent Forum hosted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, state and local health practitioners expressed their desire to more easily access social media data. The Now Trending Challenge was created to help fill this need.

The Challenge asks participants to create a web-based application using open-source Twitter data that will automatically deliver a list of the top-five trending illnesses from a specified geographic region in a twenty-four hour period. This data would be sent to state and local health practitioners to use in a variety of ways including building a baseline of trend data, engaging the public on trending health topics, serving as an indicator of potential health issues emerging in the population, or cross-referencing other data sources.

The winning submission will receive a grand prize of $21,000, as well as a $1000 travel stipend to attend an event announcing the winner. In addition to the monetary prize, winners will have the chance to present their tool at a Fusion Forum and will ultimately benefit from national visibility and recognition as the tool is used by state and local health practitioners throughout the nation.

For further information, including complete rules and regulations, and to register your intent to participate, please visit www.nowtrendingchallenge.com.

Spread the word!

Help us spread the word about the Now Trending Challenge by forwarding this email or passing out the attached materials to students, colleagues or friends you know in the health or technology field who may be interested!

Stay informed!

For frequent updates and to search for potential team members: Twitter: @ASPRFusion Hashtag: #NowTrending2012

Please direct all questions to now.trendingchallenge@hhs.gov.