"My Earth" Astrophysics and Planets -- a serious game to build low carbon scenarios in the astronomy academic community

TL;DR

This paper presents a serious game designed to raise awareness and simulate strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the astronomy research community, fostering discussions on sustainable practices.

Contribution

It introduces an innovative serious game for engaging astronomers in developing low-carbon strategies within their research activities.

Findings

Participants recognized key challenges in reducing emissions without disrupting research.

The game facilitated discussions on sustainable practices in astronomy.

Broader engagement and institutional support are needed for effective implementation.

Abstract

This report summarizes what has happened in the mini-workshops entitled ''My Earth in 180 minutes'' organized during the lunch break at the SF2A 2024 conference in Marseille. The project showcased an innovative serious game designed to raise awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in astronomical research laboratories. Participants, organized into teams, simulate strategies to reduce their carbon footprints by 50\%, focusing on key astronomical activities such as space instrumentation, data analysis, and laboratory work. The sessions highlight the challenges of achieving significant emissions reductions without disrupting core research activities, such as telescope observations. While the serious game facilitates important discussions on sustainable practices, the results point to the need for broader engagement, adaptation to different cultural contexts, and institutional support. The project highlights the importance of integrating climate action into the academic environment and suggests potential future directions for expanding its impact.