CHOICE at the 2025 Researchers’ Night: When Food Choices Meet Climate Action
The CHOICE project proudly participated in the 2025 European Researchers’ Night, offering an engaging, interactive booth at the historic National Observatory of Athens. The event brought together citizens of all ages to explore the critical connection between food choices and climate change, aligning with CHOICE’s mission to mainstream sustainable behaviors through science-based tools and immersive experiences.
Under the central theme “What does your food have to do with the climate?”, visitors were invited to reflect on how everyday eating habits affect the planet—and how informed choices can support climate goals, biodiversity, and public health.
Science Through Play: Climate Action for the Next Generation
One of the booth’s main attractions was Hotspot Earth, an educational video game developed by IIASA. With two computer stations set up, the game drew long lines of enthusiastic children who returned repeatedly to challenge climate threats and explore sustainable diets. The activity helped make climate science tangible and fun, especially for young minds.
Immersive Technology for Real Impact
Visitors also had the opportunity to explore state-of-the-art tools developed within CHOICE:
- The Virtual Reality system presented by ICCS, which used eye-tracking to evaluate how users interact with food environments in immersive scenarios.
- The Interactive Simulation Environment for the FABLE Calculator, presented by ERRA, enabling citizens to explore how different food system pathways impact emissions and land use over time.
These tools sparked curiosity and dialogue across age groups, showcasing the project’s efforts to bring Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) closer to citizens.
Additionally, children were invited to become CHOICE Ambassadors by drawing their own climate pledges after experiencing the interactive tools. Inspired by what they had learned, many pledged to take meaningful action, such as recycling more and planting trees, showing how awareness can spark personal responsibility. These creative contributions became a spontaneous “gallery of climate hope”.
Additionally, children were invited to become CHOICE Ambassadors by drawing their own climate pledges after experiencing the interactive tools. Inspired by what they had learned, many pledged to take meaningful action, such as recycling more and planting trees, showing how awareness can spark personal responsibility. These creative contributions became a spontaneous “gallery of climate hope”.
Data Stories with a Local Angle
The booth also featured a gallery of data stories developed by LIBRA AI Technologies, focusing on the Greek pilot. Through visually engaging posters, visitors compared the environmental impact of cow’s milk versus almond milk, and beef versus chicken or soy-based alternatives. These comparisons were based on evidence from CHOICE’s IAM models and communicated in simple, relatable terms.
The CHOICE introductory video, complete with Greek subtitles, played on a large screen throughout the evening, welcoming the public to the broader mission of the project.
Knowledge to Take Home
Visitors were provided with:
- The official CHOICE brochure
- A fact sheet from CHOICE’s first awareness campaign in collaboration with e-Fresh, focusing on dairy product consumption
- One-on-one discussions with the team about how small dietary changes can drive systemic sustainability.
Meet the CHOICE Team
The CHOICE booth was hosted by:
- Gianna Kitsara and Orestis Speyer (National Observatory of Athens – NOA)
- Nikos Tantaroudas (Institute of Communication and Computer Systems – ICCS)
- Evi Brousta (LIBRA AI Technologies)
- Dimitra Samara and Ntora Karali (Environmental Reliability and Risk Analysis – ERRA)
Together, they showcased how science, technology, and storytelling can empower citizens to make informed and climate-conscious food decisions.
Why Events Like This Matter
Food systems are responsible for approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By participating in public science events, CHOICE helps raise awareness and connect European citizens with the tools, data, and narratives they need to engage with the climate transition.
The 2025 Researchers’ Night was not only an outreach success, but also a demonstration of how interactive tools, scientific storytelling, and collaborative innovation can engage diverse audiences in shaping a more sustainable future—one choice at a time.
