Celebrating the Inaugural STRATEGIES Summer School

This past August, the STRATEGIES Horizon Europe Project launched its first summer school in Warsaw, bringing together graduate students, early-career researchers, designers, and game industry professionals for an inspiring three-day exploration of ecologically conscious game design.

A Platform for Interdisciplinary Exchange

Hosted at the University of Warsaw from 26–28 August 2025, the event brought together voices from academia and industry to explore how video games can serve as platforms for ecological awareness, climate storytelling, and sustainable development.

Day 1: Talks & Workshops — Laying the Foundations

The first day kicked off with presentations and interactive workshops led by STRATEGIES researchers Ruth Dorthea Eggel, Paweł Frelik, Christopher Paling and Stefan Werning. Attendees engaged in critical discussions around ecogame design, eco-critical media analysis, and the environmental impacts of digital media. The keynote was delivered by Dr Michał Kłosiński (University of Silesia), offering deep insight into the intersection between biopolitics and environmental storytelling in games.

Professor Michał Kłosiński shares his research on biopolitics in ecogames

Day 2: Carbon Literacy® Training Tailored to Games

Day two focused on Carbon Literacy®, delivered by Dr Chloé Germaine and Professor Paul Wake, both from Manchester Metropolitan University. This session helped participants understand the carbon footprint of everyday activities and inspired practical strategies to reduce emissions at individual, community, and organisational levels - with a focus on game industry practices.

Day 3: Student Projects & Keynote Inspiration

The final day showcased participants’ research projects and ideas, tackling issues like ecosystem dynamics, climate change, and ethical considerations in digital media. The day also included keynote address from Maria Wagner of the Sustainable Games Alliance, offering visionary perspectives on how the industry can meet its climate commitments.

Maria Wagner of the Sustainable Games Alliance, sharing the latest work on their GHG Accounting Standard.

The summer school was designed for Master’s and PhD students, early-career researchers, and postdoctoral scholars from fields like game studies, environmental humanities, media studies, and sustainability. Enrolled participants enjoyed free access, with lunches provided, and were awarded 3 ECTS credits for full participation.

Reflecting on an Impactful Beginning

This inaugural edition set a strong foundation for STRATEGIES’ mission to bridge academic inquiry and creative innovation in games and sustainability. It fostered a collaborative environment—equipping participants with the tools to advance ecogame development and scholarship.

Looking Ahead

With successful workshops, meaningful dialogue, and promising projects for the future, the STRATEGIES Summer School in Warsaw has laid a robust groundwork for future editions. We are already looking forward to Summer School 2026 in Cologne, hosted at the Cologne Game Lab, which will build on the momentum from Warsaw and continue expanding the conversation on games and sustainability.