Stakeholder Workshops Informing System Modeling—Analyzing the Urban Food–Water–Energy Nexus in Amman, Jordan

Large cities worldwide are increasingly suffering from a nexus of food, water, and energy supply challenges. This complex nexus can be analyzed with modern physico-economic system models. Only when practical knowledge from those affected, experts, and decision makers is incorporated alongside various other data sources, however, are the analyses suitable for policy advice. Here, we present a concept for “Sustainability Nexus Workshops” suitable for extracting and preparing relevant practical knowledge for nexus modeling and apply it to the case of Amman, Jordan. The experiences of the workshop participants show that, although water scarcity is the predominant resource problem in Jordan, there is a close connection between food, water, and energy as well as between resource supply and urbanization. To prevent the foreseeable significant degradation of water supply security, actions are needed across all nexus dimensions. The stakeholders demonstrate an awareness of this and suggest a variety of technical measures, policy solutions, and individual behavioral changes—often in combination. Improving the supply of food, water, and energy requires political and institutional reforms. In developing these, it must be borne in mind that the prevalent informal structures and illegal activities are both strategies for coping with nexus challenges and causes of them

Communicating sustainability and climate-change messages through 360 film and virtual reality

In this chapter, students will learn about a virtual reality experience called Crystal Reef, through which they will learn about ocean acidification and emerging climate change research happening in Italy, experience it viscerally through virtual reality (VR) technology, complete activities to conceptualise their own immersive stories, and ultimately learn about communicating positive sustainable global changes using an immersive technology platform. Climate change and environmental messaging is complex. However, even small everyday positive changes in environmental behaviours can make a difference. Behind every great film is a story. Within this activity, students break into groups and develop their own short 360 VR film on an environmental topic. The key communication tool will be a film storyboard. The storyboard may include text, images, sound, or a combination of both. When designing 360 content, it is important to consider the participant’s field of view. Cardinal directions such as left, right, up, and down help translate flat space into three dimensions