SeaTheChange

Inspiration

When MVHacks 9.0 announced the prompt "Under the Sea," our team immediately thought of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for human development. We wanted to spread SDG 14's mission and make the youth feel more included, their voices more heard, and to motivate them to take action as the next generation for change.

What it does

SeaTheChange is an interactive platform that helps users explore ocean issues and take meaningful action.

Users can: Explore a global map of ocean challenges, including plastic pollution, coral reef damage, overfishing, and climate-related impacts Access simplified, curated resources to understand each issue Discover real-world programs and opportunities they can join Take action through organized initiatives and youth-led efforts

Our platform transforms overwhelming information into clear, actionable steps, making ocean conservation more accessible and engaging for students.

How we built it

We designed SeaTheChange with accessibility and interactivity in mind. We first mapped out the user journey, from learning about SDG 14, to exploring threats, to taking action. We then implemented visually immersive components such as a full-width ocean-themed hero section, statistic cards, and timeline-based educational content. We built interactive global impact maps for each ocean threat, highlighting 5–7 affected regions to provide geographic context. We also developed a filtering system that matches users with relevant programs based on their age and location. A submission form allows users to create their own initiatives, which are then added to the platform’s database. To encourage advocacy and collaboration, we implemented a “Voice Your Opinion” section connecting users to major environmental organizations, as well as a community discussion space. Throughout development, we focused on clean UI design, consistent ocean-inspired visuals, and intuitive navigation to make the experience engaging for younger audiences.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was balancing ambition with time constraints. We had many ideas, including advanced maps, user-generated initiatives, and filtering systems — but implementing them all within a hackathon timeframe required prioritization. Another challenge was structuring the data for programs and regions. We needed to ensure users would only see relevant opportunities based on their age and location, which required careful planning of filters and database logic. Designing the interactive maps also posed challenges, as we wanted them to be visually appealing while still accurately representing multiple affected regions.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of creating a platform that moves beyond awareness and actually encourages action. SeaTheChange doesn't just explain ocean problems — it connects users to opportunities, enables them to create initiatives, and provides pathways for advocacy and research. We are also proud of the interactive impact maps, which visually communicate complex global issues in a simple and engaging way. Additionally, the user initiative creation feature allows people of all ages to contribute directly, reinforcing the idea that meaningful change can start at any scale.

What we learned

It is important to cut down on ideas and define scope before starting any kind of implementation. We also learned the value of structuring features around user impact rather than technical complexity, and how strong UI design can make educational content more engaging and accessible.

What's next for SeaTheChange

Map improvements — incorporate vector atlas maps that enable zoom-in functionality and updated locations for 2026 Mobile accessibility and responsive optimization for smaller screens Expanded program database with more global opportunities Real-time collaboration features in the community discussion section Ability for users to track initiative progress and impact metrics Integration of live environmental data sources for updated statistics

Built With

• base44
• canva
• chatgpt
• framer