The Bigger Picture
Explore how different sciences solve environmental challenges together
The Bigger Picture is an interactive game that turns environmental research into hands-on discovery. Participants explore real-world challenges, discuss different perspectives, and uncover how science helps us understand complex environmental questions.
How It Works | Topics | For Schools & Events Organizers | Join the Team
Why Different Sciences Matter
Environmental challenges are rarely only ecological, social, political, or economic. They are all of these at the same time. The Bigger Picture helps participants discover how combining perspectives leads to deeper understanding and more effective solutions.
How the Game Works
1. Explore different perspectives
Discover how researchers from different disciplines approach the same challenge.
2. Make the connections
See what happens when ideas from different fields come together.
3. See the bigger picture
Learn why today's environmental challenges require collaboration across scientific boundaries.
Explore our topics
Every version of The Bigger Picture focuses on a real-world environmental challenge. Participants discover how different scientific disciplines contribute unique perspectives and why meaningful solutions emerge through collaboration.
Bring The Bigger Picture
to Your School or Event
Our Oceans
Even though Austria has no coastline, healthy oceans influence our climate, food systems, economy and wellbeing. In this game, participants explore how researchers from different disciplines investigate the oceans and why protecting marine ecosystems matters to all of us.
What participants discover
- How oceans regulate the climate
- Why pollution in the oceans affects us all
- How politics influences ocean protection
- Why healthy oceans support economies and societies
- How different sciences work together to understand the oceans
Become a Game Facilitator
for The Bigger Picture
Our Cities
Cities are more than buildings and streets. Trees, soils, rivers, insects and green spaces influence our health, wellbeing and resilience to climate change. In this game, participants discover how different scientific disciplines help us understand and shape healthier and more sustainable cities.
What participants discover
- Why biodiversity is important for urban health
- How nature influences wellbeing
- Why access to green spaces is a social issue
- How law, economics and ecology shape urban futures
- Why different scientific perspectives are needed
Information for Schools and Event Organizers
Do you want to bring The Bigger Picture to you school or event? Find all the information below!
The Bigger Picture is designed to work for a range of players and our gamemakers have been trained to work with everyone, from children to students and science-interested adults. We love to bring our game to…
- Schools
- Science festivals
- Museums
- Citizen science events
- Sustainability days
- Public engagement events
If you decide to book The Bigger Picture for one of your events, we offer you…
- An interactive game station
- Trained gamemakers (science communicators?)
- Gameplay adaptable to different age- and knowledge-groups
- Flexible event formats (?)
Our service will help participants and players…
- learn more about the scientific process through interaction
- find out about environmental challenges
- discover interdisciplinary thinking
- experience science as an interactive process
Lena Schmidlechner
Information for Interested Game Facilitators
Do you want to be part of our team and communicate what interdisciplinary climate research means?
Bachelor's and Master's students from any Austrian university and any discipline are welcome! All you need is a genuine interest in environmental and climate research and science communication.
- Science communication expierence, including training by our team
- Facilitation and moderation skills
- Experience interacting with different audiences
- Insights into excellent environmental research
- Opportunities to work at different and exciting public events
- Payment is based on a tiered system
- Quick and intelligent students with an eager interest in climate and environmental research
- Reliability and punctuality
- The ability to approach a range of different participants to play the game