Are you game for Climate Action? - Engaging young people in built environment climate research through co-design and play

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The Climate Action Game project will use a co-design method to develop a boardgame focusing on climate research/action in the built environment. Climate change adaptation and mitigation in the built environment, while being researched, are not yet at the forefront of policy, public awareness or action (Harrop, 2018); e.g., public awareness about the amount of carbon that buildings use and produce appears low.The PI's doctoral research project, entitled 'Youth's perceptions towards the planning of the future 'smart city' in Europe' explores the perceptions of 15-19-year-olds towards future urban development and aims to develop new methodologies of engaging young people in urban planning and to critically appraise future city visions against the needs of that demographic. The PI has experience in working with teenagers in research and design contexts.The Co-I's doctoral project 'A critical realist perspective on environmental governance in city region planning' uses Birmingham City Region as a case study to explore linking ecosystems science and urban planning, identifying barriers and opportunities for a shift towards effective climate change action and nature-based solutions. The Co-I's subject, knowledge and locational focus are directly relevant to this bid. She collaborated in past UKRC-funded projects that developed a game (Rufopoly; https://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/stories/rural-urban-fringe) a participatory game-making resource (www.participology.com) and a planning game (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/place-makers-educational-tool-for-teachers-11882632); in the latter instance working with GCSE and A-level students to test and refine the game.The aim will be to co-design an action research game focusing on climate education in the built environment which can be used as a teaching tool and as a community game by young people to understand how their local built environment can adapt and help achieve the climate targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement/COPs. The main activities will be online climate literacy workshops, physical game design workshops and the peer/local research conducted by the young people. The final outputs will be presented in two Community game events at the GAP Art Centre. A further game launch event will be held at Birmingham City University in the week of COP26.The target audience is threefold. First, the project aims to engage young people in climate research in the built environment by creating an engaging stand-alone product which will be enjoyable to play. Second, the game will be accompanied online by instructions how it can be used as a teaching tool in school settings. Third, other researchers and community organisations will be provided with the template (process) for developing specific local versions of the game.The GAP Art Centre will provide access to artists, young people in Balsall Health and in-kind support (reduced venue hire costs). The Birmingham Architectural Association and the West Midlands Royal Town Planning Institute will provide support in-kind by providing access to practitioners, to volunteer and inform the young people about their work in sustainability and development and disseminate the final outputs. The Anthropocene Architecture School as an independent climate literacy education consultant will provide support with the development of the game and educational focus. The intended outputs will be a website, community game events and a boardgame. The innovative aspect of public engagement will be the focus on built environment climate literacy through play. The project's impact addresses a gap in the provision of educational and youth engagement materials. Locally, the project has the potential to develop a group of young people as climate advocates. Nationally, the project can provide a clear output and a method for stimulating community interest, knowledge and action on climate change in the built environment.