"If You Eat Vegetables Instead of Meat, You Can Reduce Carbon Emissions"

National Gwacheon Science Museum Launches 'Reducing Carbon in Diet Game' Online
Also Offers On-site Program to Learn Carbon Emissions by Food Type

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Gwacheon National Science Museum will launch an online eco-friendly science game called ‘Reducing Carbon in Diets’ on the 18th.

The Gwacheon Science Museum first developed the board game ‘Reducing Carbon in Diets’ in 2020 to raise awareness of how to respond to global warming and the climate crisis in daily life. This utilized the results of a pilot cooperative class for developing science teaching aids conducted in 2019 with the Department of Design and Ergonomics at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST). The museum’s design experts improved the game by referring to the outcomes of the ‘Design for Sustainability’ course taught by Professor Lee Seung-ho.

The game features 19 types of food. For rice dishes, there are white rice and multigrain rice; for soups/stews, there are soybean sprout soup, seaweed soup, beef radish soup, soybean paste stew, and kimchi stew. The cooked dishes include grilled mackerel, spicy stir-fried chicken, spicy pork stir-fry, pork belly, and beef bulgogi. Side dishes include soybean sprouts, diced radish kimchi (kkakdugi), napa cabbage kimchi, potato pancakes, seasoned spinach, dried radish strips pickled in soy sauce, and beef jangjorim (soy-braised beef).

Each food item is represented by blocks that indicate carbon emissions and calorie content. When food blocks randomly appear and are placed on a tray, carbon blocks fill the window slots according to the carbon emissions of each food. During the process of filling the tray’s sections divided by food type, players can exchange food blocks. The goal is to complete the meal with the lowest carbon emissions to win. This allows players to enjoyably understand that carbon emissions can be reduced by adjusting their diet.

Although developed as an experience product for visitors to the museum, restrictions on visits and experiences due to infection risks led to the development of an online game. Anyone with internet access can connect and enjoy it anywhere. It is available anytime through the Gwacheon Science Museum’s website.

Additionally, visitors to the museum’s creative caf? can enjoy ‘Reducing Carbon in Diets’ at the ‘Environmental Teaching Aid Experience Exhibition’ and try various other eco-friendly science teaching aids. At the entrance, photos showing the impact of environmental destruction are displayed, and there is a corner to compare the water footprints of different foods. The ‘Fishing Together’ game teaches about marine life and waste, while the ‘Separation Disposal Card Game’ helps players learn about how to separate disposable items for recycling and about reusable alternatives.

Lee Jeong-mo, director of the Gwacheon Science Museum, said, “This game was developed so that people can enjoyably learn ways to respond to environmental and social changes through science teaching aids. We hope those who live far away or are concerned about visiting institutions will try it. We will continue to develop scientific content such as eco-friendly science teaching aids to present sustainable science culture activities.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.