A person deposits Play-Doh into a miniature model with paper houses and Play-Doh features.

Event Recap: Exploring Innovative Climate Solutions with EcoBlock at KQED Science Fair

Headshot of Haixin Guo
  • Haixin Guo
  • Haixin Guo is an Information Systems Analyst at the California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE) at UC Berkeley. Her main responsibilities are writing and publishing articles, creating graphics, and managing social media posts. She holds a B.A. in Cognitive Science and Data Science from UC Berkeley.

On August 21, 2024, EcoBlock principal investigator Dr. Therese Peffer joined researchers from UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to showcase environmental solutions at KQED’s Climate Adaptation Science Fair in San Francisco. The event was part of a broader initiative sparked by KQED’s podcast, Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America, to raise awareness about the intersection of housing and climate change. Through interactive, hands-on exhibitions, kids and their caretakers explored climate topics such as home electrification, sea level rise solutions, and fire preparedness.

At the fair, Therese presented EcoBlock’s approach to resilient, block-scale retrofitting through a miniature cardboard model of the EcoBlock neighborhood. It didn’t take long for EcoBlock to become a crowd favorite—over 80 attendees stopped by, turning the booth into a vibrant and playful ecosystem that complemented the neighborhood in surprising ways. Kids of all ages wasted no time getting their hands dirty, putting together colorful paper houses and using Play-Doh to add a rich array of elements—including fruit trees, tiny ponds, recycling bins, solar panels, and even animal bridges—to the block. They also had the chance to complete a Sustainability Scavenger Hunt puzzle sheet with a graphic of EcoBlock. For adults, the booth offered educational posters and handouts to provide further information about the project.

A woman smiles behind a table of a mini model of EcoBlock made out of cardboard and Play Doh.

Dr. Therese Peffer wraps up a successful day showcasing EcoBlock at the KQED Science Fair. Credit: Haixin Guo

A before and after of the EcoBlock model neighborhood, centered on a paper house.

A snapshot of the model neighborhood built by kids at the EcoBlock booth. Credit: Haixin Guo

A hand reaches for more Play Doh, with paper houses in the front.

All throughout the fair, kids actively participated in building a model neighborhood of an EcoBlock. Credit: Haixin Guo

A blue recycling bin made out of Play Doh and a paper solar panel taped to a paper house.

Kids let their imaginations run wild, adding playful sustainability features to the block. Credit: Haixin Guo

The KQED science fair presented climate lessons in a fun and accessible way. As the kids built upon each other’s ideas, it became clear that bringing together different perspectives fostered creativity and inspired inventive, eco-friendly creations. This event showcased how public engagement can spark interest in driving environmental change—no action is too small when people come together to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Cover image credit: Haixin Guo

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