San Francisco High Schoolers Tap AR to Tackle Environmental Issues

In San Francisco, a city that has been leading the fight to slow climate change, high school students will soon spend class time using augmented reality (AR) to figure out how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Image Credit: Neste.

Lincoln High School recently received EduCycle, an AR gaming platform that challenges students to reduce the United States’ carbon dioxide emissions to the level specified in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change — 26 percent below 2005 CO2 levels by 2025. Students will start by learning to reduce their personal carbon footprint: They’ll use a physical map board, 3D printer markers and a mobile app accessible via iPad to see how their own choices “come alive” in a virtual city, according to the game website.

EduCycle was designed by Finland-based oil manufacturing services company Neste, as part of the company’s initiative to find innovative solutions to create new kind of renewable products and services. The game is based on research data by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and designed in partnership with a Finnish digital animation and visual effects studio.

When Neste donated the game to Lincoln High School last week, the San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFDE) was present at the event.

"San Francisco school students are some of our greatest environmental champions because they learn about the importance of protecting nature in the classroom," said Deborah Raphael, director of SFDE, in a news release. "Activities that help our students better understand the impacts of climate change offer meaningful opportunities for students to dig deeper and think even bigger about how they might make a difference for their generation and generations to come."

To learn more about the game, watch the video below or visit the Neste site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Ativion StudentKeeper

    New Platform Combines Content Filtering, Classroom Management, Device Management Tools

    Ed tech, remote access, and cybersecurity solution provider Ativion has introduced StudentKeeper, an all-in-one platform that encompasses digital safety management, filtering, and reporting tools for supporting and protecting students.

  • school building protected by a glowing blue shield with circuit patterns, blocking red-orange cyber threat icons

    Establishing a Proactive Defense Against Evolving Cyber Threats

    Here are six good starting points for K-12 districts that want to improve their cybersecurity mitigation strategies and take a more proactive approach to mitigating risk.

  • SXSW EDU

    SXSW EDU 2025: Where K-12 Meets the Future of Education

    Join education's most passionate community this March 3-6, 2025 at a special 15th-annual SXSW EDU Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.