IIASA at Austria's Long Night of Research

© Terragami

At ISTA, visitors can dive into Hotspot Earth, an action-packed video game developed by Terragami and IIASA researcher Jan Steinhauser. The game explores the complexity of the climate crisis by challenging players to decide which actions to prioritize and how they interact. In dynamic gameplay rounds, players lead a growing climate movement, confront climate threats that appear as monsters across different countries, and support local responses. Between action phases, they manage a simulation, balancing key indicators and shaping outcomes where lower temperatures weaken the monsters, illustrating the impact of coordinated action.

© Makasanaphoto | Dreamstime.com

Also at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the interactive station, Source of knowledge – How do we secure drinking water for everyone? - led by IIASA researcher Rebekah Hinton - focuses on global water challenges. Visitors can compare water consumption around the world, explore where drinking water comes from, and experiment with simple purification methods using games, maps, and even a real sand filter, highlighting both challenges and practical solutions for ensuring access to clean water.