Innovative communication strategies: Bridging science, storytelling and social media

This seminar is organised in collaboration with the Initiative for Media Innovation (IMI).

The "Alternative Futures" Project visualises future climate scenarios (2050) through immersive storytelling, combining academic research with interactive experiences. It aims to engage business and political leaders in Future Thinking by exploring the impacts of global temperature increases beyond +1.5°C, +2°C, and +3°C, through scientifically grounded yet creatively enhanced narratives that translate data into compelling stories that inspire action.

The Project also serves as a platform for academic research, including interdisciplinary studies like "Creating Memories of the Future for Intergenerational Decisions" by Montpellier Business School and HEC Lausanne professors. It aims to improve intergenerational decision-making in business through three key steps: using the Delphi method to develop a questionnaire to assess future-orientation in situational judgment tests; testing the questionnaire with a future-thinking nudge; and experimenting with VR scenarios to influence deciding pro-future generation(s).

Reducing CO₂ emissions is the central issue of our time. Reducing some of these emissions requires individual action that is difficult to promote or encourage. We are trying to meet this challenge with the help of scientists and YouTubers.

With Co2nséquences, we work with web influencers to share their visions, but also to show or explain the impact of some of our everyday actions, and to highlight solutions that can help reduce our carbon footprint. From the energy mix, to electric mobility, but also the island of Samso in Denmark and the melting of glaciers in Switzerland, the project attempts to tackle all the issues surrounding climate change and decarbonisation. With more than 2 million views for season 1, we are hoping to reach over 5 million views with this project.