Abstract
The Sustainnovation Challenge is an immersive learning experience focused on high school students having agency and a voice in the future of their place. This paper reflects on a series of Sustainnovation Challenges in six local government areas of New South Wales, Australia in 2023. It outlines the methodology underpinning the Challenges, drawing on relevant case study literature of related efforts to engage young people in civic activities using digital technologies responding to hyper local issues as diverse as water sustainability, creating safe spaces for women and girls, inclusion, bridging the digital divide, and developing a network of next-generation innovators. Specifically this paper demonstrates the potential of data physicalisation expressed through the one of the Sustainnovation Challenges in which participants co-designed and created an analogue interactive art work from digital data. ‘City Pulse’ as the flipdot data driven display became known - was designed to explore the general public’s understanding of data and how it can be used to improve life at street level - be that, better access to services, improving social relationships or better engaging with local governance. Situated at the intersection of of information visualisation and tangible interfaces This emerging field of research offers new possibilities to meet the rising democratic challenge that is every person’s ability to analyse and interpret an increasing volume of data. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for educators, policymakers, and industry designed to support the inclusion of young people and to engage them in decisions that affect their future.
Presenters
Paul EgglestoneDirector FASTLab, Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2024 Special Focus—People, Education, and Technology for a Sustainable Future
KEYWORDS
INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY, DATA, ART, EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY
