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SDSC’s Bob Sinkovits and Congressional App Challenge participants discuss the history of supercomputing. Credit: Neha Pearce

If you’ve ever wondered where the new leading tech innovators might emerge, they may have just paid us a visit. Several of San Diego County’s most promising high school coders recently visited the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at University of California San Diego, part of the School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences (SCIDS), to learn more about coding as part of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge.

The visit to SDSC included a guided tour and hands-on activities to broaden their understanding of research driven by data and computation. These student developers also had the chance to meet Congressman Scott Peters, who leads the annual event in California’s 50th District.

Colloquially referred to as “the Hackathon,” the annual Congressional App Challenge, launched in 2013, engages middle and high school students across the U.S. in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through the creative process of app development. The competition encourages students to design, build and showcase original software applications for mobile, tablet or computer devices, helping them explore how technology can be used to solve real-world problems.

Congressman Peters has made the event a signature workforce development initiative for the district. Each year, winning students have their apps displayed on the U.S. House of Representatives website and exhibited in the U.S. Capitol alongside other national winners.

During their visit to SDSC, the students met SDSC Director Frank Würthwein, who shared insights on how supercomputing supports breakthroughs across science, engineering and society.

“It was a joy to host such bright and motivated young people,” Würthwein said. “Their creativity and enthusiasm for coding remind us why it’s so important to nurture the next generation of innovators. We’re delighted to open our doors to these students and help them see what’s possible when science and imagination come together.”

The visit also highlighted SDSC’s broader mission to expand access to computing education and inspire K–12 students to explore data science, artificial intelligence, and computational research. Through its educational outreach, internship programs and collaborations with public institutions across the country, SDSC is working to lower barriers to entry and provide students with exposure to the tools and expertise that power discovery.

“Events like this show how partnerships between education, research and public service can ignite lifelong curiosity,” Würthwein added. “By connecting learners with hands-on experiences in real research environments, SDSC bridges the gap between curiosity and career readiness.”