Frozen Research

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The particular UX challenge of the project was ensuring that the complex scientific concepts of ice core research and climate history were presented in an intuitive and engaging way, while maintaining accessibility for users with varying levels of prior knowledge. Additionally, the decision to design the application as a tabletop experience introduced unique constraints in terms of spatial interaction and visual layout. It was also essential to guide users through the application, providing them with a clear entry and exit point from the immersive experience.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
A personal highlight in the development process was of course seeing the VR prototype come to life, where users could interact with the ice core layers and intuitively grasp the climate data. An aha! moment occurred during the research phase when we realized the profound relevance of studying the Anthropocene. The scientific paper by Franz Mauelshagen, “Historical Assessment of the ‘Anthropogenic’ Factor,” was particularly influential in shaping our understanding of humanity’s impact on the climate. A low point was tackling technical challenges with physics and object interactions in the VR environment, which required several iterations to overcome.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, we would love to further develop this project and refine its educational potential. It would be incredible to see the application implemented in a museum setting, where visitors could use it to learn about the history of our climate in an engaging and interactive way. By combining immersive technology with scientific education, the project has the potential to make a meaningful impact on raising awareness about climate change.