About – Reboot the Earth Vermont 2026

Reboot the Earth

Reboot the Earth is a social coding event that brings a diverse group together to improve or build technology solutions addressing the current climate crisis. Organized by the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT), the initiative has been co-hosted with partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Carnegie Mellon University, the Digital Public Goods Alliance, and Salesforce.

In 2025, Reboot the Earth focused on Agriculture and AI, with events held across eight cities worldwide:

Hyderabad, India (23–24 April)
Rabat, Morocco (25–26 June)
Kigali, Rwanda (7–8 May)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (9–10 August)
New York City (29–30 May)
Doha, Qatar (2–4 October)
Rome (13–14 October)
Silicon Valley (7–8 November)

Vermont 2026 would be the first Reboot the Earth event in New England — a new chapter in a growing global tradition.

Why Vermont? Vermont sits at the intersection of climate vulnerability and innovation — facing real pressures from flooding, agricultural disruption, and energy transition, while hosting institutions committed to sustainability and a strong student community ready to act.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Reboot the Earth is committed to hosting diverse and inclusive events. As inheritors of our planet, it is essential for youth to contribute to this important cause. We encourage young computer programmers, developers, and especially those with an interest in building technology that advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to participate.

Vermont teams will be encouraged to frame their solutions within the SDGs — connecting local climate challenges to the global goals the UN has set for a sustainable future.

Event Facts

Format

Two-day, in-person hackathon. Teams of five work to prototype and pitch a technology-driven solution to a climate challenge. Format may be 24 hours or two 8–10 hour days depending on the final venue.

Date & Location

October 2026, Burlington, Vermont. Exact dates and venue to be confirmed. University of Vermont is the primary host institution.

Who Can Participate

Currently enrolled students at UVM, Champlain College, St. Michael's College, or Middlebury College. All majors and skill levels welcome.

Cost

Free to participate. Meals provided both days. Travel assistance for students at partner colleges may be available — details TBA.

Speakers & Programming

A key component of Reboot the Earth events is bringing in expert speakers to contextualize climate challenges for student teams. At the Silicon Valley event, organizers brought in a fire chief to speak about responding to wildfires — the resulting student project automated critical incident paperwork that slows emergency response.

For Vermont, speakers may include local environmental leaders, emergency response officials, technologists, climate policy experts, or representatives from Vermont's agriculture and energy sectors. Confirmed speakers will be announced as they are secured.

Sponsorship & Mentorship

Previous Reboot the Earth events have been supported by major sponsors. Salesforce has historically provided mentorship and sponsorship funding of $10–15k for these events. For 2026, sponsorship partnerships are actively being explored, including potential mentorship from IBM and Vermont-based organizations in the energy, climate, and technology sectors.

Sponsors receive visibility at the event, recognition on materials, and the opportunity to engage directly with Vermont's top student innovators.

UN Partnership & Branding

No formal agreement is required for the collaboration. However, all printed materials, banners, and promotional items carrying the UN logo must be submitted to Mithusa Kajendran for approval prior to production. Plan for a minimum two-week review turnaround.

The United Nations OICT provides official program support, branded materials, UN swag for participants, and the registration portal. Mithusa will be on-site as the UN representative throughout the event.

Get in Touch

Questions about the event, sponsorship, or getting your school involved? Reach out directly.

Email the Organizers

About the Event