By Paul Gorman
Young geoscientists are showing how they can help stem concerns about the rising number of retirements in the sector.
Seequent, the Bentley Subsurface Company, recently supported the first virtual Geo-Institute DIGGS Student Hackathon, which brought together emerging talent to tackle real-world geoscience challenges.
Ripon Malo accepts his award as the winner of the 2026 DIGGS Hackathon for project Ground Decoder.
Seequent is committed to fostering the next generation of earth scientists and driving innovation in the sector.
The hackathon provided a platform for students and young professionals to collaborate, problem-solve, and push the boundaries of digital geoscience. Using Seequent’s cutting-edge software, including Leapfrog, participants developed innovative solutions for a range of challenges, from resource exploration to environmental management.
- Data In/Data Out: Create converters, validators, or integration tools.
- Visualisation: Design interactive boring or in-situ test logs, 3D sub-surface models, BIM or digital twin, or innovative displays.
- Direct Design/Interpretation: Develop engineering analysis, data reduction, and design tools.
- Cross-Discipline Integration: Bridge geotechnical data with other engineering disciplines
The winner of the hackathon was announced at the 2026 Geo-Congress in Salt Lake City. First place went to the University of Utah team for its project Ground Decoder.
‘I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with DIGGS, which is an innovative data standard that enables the seamless exchange and sharing of geotechnical and geoenvironmental information across projects and organisations, helping professionals better manage and reuse valuable sub-surface data. Participating in this initiative has been inspiring, especially because I am passionate about innovation and solving critical problems.’
‘Working with DIGGS has broadened my understanding of how standardised data can transform geotechnical practice and support future-ready, efficient engineering solutions.’ – Ripon Malo of the Hackathon-winning team for their project Ground Decoder.’
Ross Cutts, Senior Engineer at Schnabel Engineering and the Founder of Geosetta, described the hackathon as a ‘genuine glimpse into the future of our profession.’
‘I left GeoCongress more excited than ever about the next generation of geotechnical engineers and where they’re taking this field.’
Scott Deaton, PhD, EIT., President and Founder of Dataforensics, called the DIGGS Hackathon a powerful demonstration of the value unlocked when geotechnical data is shared through an open, standardised data interchange format. He said the student projects were inspiring and believed that with the next generation driving data-informed decision-making, humanity was well-positioned to create infrastructure which was more cost-effective, more sustainable, and more reliable.
Seequent Chief Executive Graham Grant has said the industry was very concerned that ‘years of sub-surface knowledge will walk out the door’.
As a vocal advocate of geoscience as a career pathway, he wrote an article for UK publication Green Business Journal about the shortage of these professionals.
‘When you understand how crucial their skills and knowledge are to understanding and helping reduce our impact on the planet – and then realise the profession is in severe decline – you start to see the problem,’ he wrote.
Hackathon organisers say the event was a resounding success. Participants showed many impressive solutions to challenges, and the event highlighted up-and-coming talent and the power of collaboration.
Seequent provides software to universities and students around the globe, giving them the tools and skills needed to succeed in their careers and make a positive impact on the world.
Also at Geo-Congress, Seequent launched a Geotechnical Analysis Academic Programme, with modernised offerings that bring PLAXIS and GeoStudio together under a unified subscription model, purpose‑built for education and research.
This new approach brings simpler, bundled access tailored to students, educators, and researchers. By making industry‑leading geotechnical analysis software more accessible, it will help universities strengthen teaching, learning, and research while aligning more closely with real‑world engineering workflows.
There are three options: Free Classroom, for students and available through the Bentley Education Program; Classroom WorkSuite, for university professors teaching core undergraduate topics, available as an annual or three‑year subscription; and Research Option, for professors, researchers, and PhD candidates,with access to the most advanced PLAXIS and GeoStudio offerings for complex geotechnical analysis and modelling.
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