Hackathon diplomacy: French Embassy event aims to boost Franco-US relations

Joseph Nelson, the General Assembly instructor behind that Michelin Challenge and this wine recommendation engine, has a new project going. He’s helping to organize a French Embassy Hackathon series — a project of the French embassy in the U.S. that seeks to support closer Franco-U.S. integration, especially in education.

The hackathon will take place in two parts, the first focused on student mobility and the second focused on French immersion programs in U.S. schools. Part one takes place this Saturday, Feb. 4 at GA on 15th Street.

I've been working with @franceintheus on creating a hackathon to encourage student mobility. It's 2/4. Signup: https://t.co/e7YSa7pBlL

— Joseph Nelson (@josephofiowa) January 29, 2017

“The freedom of movement between France and the US is tantamount to a successful relationship,” event organizers write. “This hackathon is a data-dive encouraging participants to comb through previous years of student study abroad information to identify where the Embassy should best be spending its resources to encourage future Franco-U.S. integration.”

Want to join?

You can RSVP here.

Added bonus — all participants will be invited to a “celebratory reception” at the French embassy on Feb. 13.