Award for Climate Communication in the Category Citizen Award

As we write these lines, we find ourselves in the midst of another heatwave. In the north of the Alps, temperatures of up to 37°C have been reported. We can feel the heat, and we realise that such heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. But is this knowledge enough to prompt us into action? What measures are we really taking against rising temperatures? And how are we adapting? In short, how can we bridge the gap between knowledge and action?

The Congress for Science Communication (K3) attempts to answer this question, assuming that the answer lies in innovative and engaging climate communication. Each year, the K3 Award for Climate Communication is awarded to the most notable projects in the German-speaking region, and this year our citizen science project, 3-2-1 heiss, was one of the winners!

Diverse Projects, Fruitful Exchange

The K3 Award was presented for the third time in mid-July this year in Frankfurt. The event brought together researchers, communication experts and citizens to celebrate the importance of climate communication. The jury recognised innovative methods of data acquisition and dissemination, as well as the wide range of communication tools employed, including "solar parties", AI for Mother Earth, and asphalt cracking. The event sparked stimulating discussions and motivated us to find new ways to make sustainability topics more accessible and involve citizens in research projects. Let the projects inspire you!

The Award-Winning Project

3-2-1 heiss! was held for the third time this summer. We measure the urban heat island effect (i.e. the temperature difference between urban and rural areas) in a participatory way. Together with citizens and community representatives, we develop practical solutions to mitigate the effects of heat. This collaboration improves our understanding of the impact of urban heat islands, providing a basis for developing local climate adaptation measures. We are proud that our project came second – and we are already looking forward to the next implementation!

Text by: Clémence Rüegsegger

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