Archive: Around Town

The Association of Science-Technology Centers in Washington, D.C. has named Megan Ludgate of the Sciencenter’s ScienceWorks program winner of an international online competition for successfully reducing carbon dioxide emissions for a virtual city. Visitors to the Sciencenter can learn more about the Clim’City Competition this Saturday, April 3, 2010 at a special 2 p.m. Showtime! presentation at the museum.

The Clim’City Competition was open to youth all over the world as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen held last December.  Modeled after the popular SimCity computer game Clim’City challenges players to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of a virtual city through balanced decision making.  According to Megan, “The virtual world in Clim’City has the same emission goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80% reduction from 2008 levels by 2050 that we have set here in Tompkins County.  This made the game even more relevant to the challenges we face locally. In fact, the virtual city even looks a lot like Ithaca.”  

Megan, a sophomore at Dryden High School, entered the competition as a member of the Sciencenter’s ScienceWorks program.  Through ScienceWorks, area teens are encouraged to employ science, technology and human creativity in our community to promote more efficient use of energy, foster concern for the environment, and take direct action that leads to the preservation of the Earth. 

Inspired by the Clim’City experience, ScienceWorks teens are now preparing to launch the new “Green Business Challenge” this spring, through which they will work with local businesses to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.  “Through the Clim’City virtual world, I was able to get an idea of the community cooperation that is required to reach our local carbon emission goals,” shares Megan.  “The work we are doing through ScienceWorks is an important contribution to meeting the carbon reduction goals of our own community.”

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