Join the pigeon on an illustrated journey into a world where artificial intelligence meets sustainability. Explore the dimensions and implications of artificial intelligence applications for environmental sustainability. Learn about the many key capabilities of AI, as well as the limitations and ethical considerations of this powerful technology. Be creatively inspired as an insider or newcomer to the AI and sustainability debate. Let's strive for AI that matters. In a good way. written by Dr. Julia Schneider, aka Docjsnyder illustrated by Pauline Cremer with Birds on Mars You are invited to download, read and share our comic essay "A Pigeon's Tale" for free (License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Downoad the pdf: https://www.pigeonstale.ai/s/A_Pigeons_Tale.pdf 〷◠‿◠〷 This project is part of our festival track "Energy of the Future" funded by the Science Year 2025.

A CycloRotor is a compact, electrically driven aviation propulsion unit capable of generating thrust 360° around its rotation axis. CycloRotors enable an easy transition from hover to forward flight profiles with gust control and precision landing, ideal for safe operations in crowded airspace, confined areas, and adverse weather conditions. Unlike traditional propulsion systems, which are limited to generating thrust in only one direction, CycloRotors can direct thrust in a full circle, giving aircraft designers a new tool to unlock novel concepts, applications, and markets.

Together with communities, the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) designs and deploys solar power and other renewable energy installations as beautiful places for people and economic development drivers. The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) and the German Federal Horticulture Show (BUGA 23) invited creatives from around the world to design a unique work of art that uses renewable energy technology to support sustainable human thriving, supplying clean megawatt-hours to the City of Mannheim. Designers considered solutions at both residential scale and civic scale. LAGI 2022 Mannheim Exhibition: LAGI 2022 submissions were featured in an exhibition—Beautiful Forms of Energy—at BUGA 23 from April 2023 to October 2023. \O/ BOOK TABLE: You can purchase "Land Art as Climate Action. Designing the 21st Century City Park Land Art Generator Initiative" at our Festival Kiosk. \O/ 〷◠‿◠〷 This project is part of our festival track "Energy of the Future" funded by the Science Year 2025.

Light pollution and the high energy demands of public streetlights are damaging ecosystems, contributing to climate change, and affecting human health. PAPILIO addresses these issues with an innovative design that combines an insect-friendly light spectrum with a built-in wind rotor to generate renewable energy, reducing both light pollution and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. The streetlight uses a Savonius rotor, which captures both vertical and horizontal airflows, ensuring reliable energy generation regardless of wind direction. This energy is stored in a rechargeable battery, allowing PAPILIO to operate autonomously without costly underground power connections. Alternatively, it can feed surplus energy into the grid during strong winds. PAPILIO minimizes light pollution with a light-shielding “full-cut-off” design that directs light downward, an infrared sensor that activates the light only when needed, and a warm 2700 Kelvin spectrum that is less harmful to insects. This design not only reduces ecological impact but also enhances urban environments with its aesthetic appeal. The climate-neutral energy production becomes an aesthetic play, enriching the public space – both during the day and at night. 〷◠‿◠〷 This project is part of our festival track "Energy of the Future" funded by the Science Year 2025.

The research project "Prompting Visions" aims to investigate how AI image generators can be used in the field of science communication to promote a social exchange on research topics. The approach is that both inexperienced individuals and experienced professionals can utilize image-generating AIs to convey their attitudes toward research topics, and artists and designers can leverage their skills to optimize the use of AI image generators. Hand in hand, visions emerge from research topics. For Fraunhofer UMSICHT, "participation" in the sense of research with social responsibility means that science communication, in particular, must be participatory and multidirectional. The active involvement of different target groups and the promotion of an open dialog are always at the heart of this. "Participatory science communication" is itself regarded as part of research.

Under the direction of Yannick Hofmann, the Fraunhofer IAO is developing an interactive media art installation in collaboration with media artist Daniel Heiss and IT specialist Tobias Haller as part of the Techno-Anima project. This serves as a simulation environment for negotiation processes involving groups comprising both human and non-human actors. The installation is based on a multi-agent system featuring various AI agents that interact with the audience in multiple languages and through multisensory means. It enables multimodal interaction with AI-generated visual content, voice output, and kinetic elements. The aim is to address the anthropomorphism of AI and its social role. To develop the multi-agent system, a three-part interdisciplinary series of events will be held using participatory innovation methods to generate new ideas and approaches. This will stimulate broader reflection on the project's topics and promote a diverse discourse.