How can citizens be won over to climate-friendly mobility? This question was addressed in the international DyMoN Summer School “GIS and Psychology Meet for Behavioral Change in Mobility” of the University of Salzburg and Salzburg Research.
Transport is responsible for a significant part of climate-damaging emissions, road space is predominantly consumed by cars and every journey not actively made is a missed opportunity for health promotion. What is needed is a comprehensive mobility turnaround. But how is it possible to convince citizens to break habitual routines and literally go new ways? This question was explored at the international DyMoN Summer School “GIS and Psychology Meet for Behavioral Change in Mobility” at the University of Salzburg.
Twelve experts from nine countries from three continents accepted the invitation of the Mobility Lab of the University of Salzburg, Salzburg Research and the company Trafficon and spent exciting days in Salzburg. Led by researchers from the fields of mobility research, geoinformatics and psychology, the DyMoN Summer School provided a stimulating environment for participants from different disciplines. The aim of the Summer School was to foster collaboration across disciplinary boundaries and stimulate critical, visionary thinking to create contributions to address real-world mobility problems.
The participants visiting Schloss Mirabell on the first evening
Lectures on sustainable mobility, geographic information systems and psychological foundations of mobility behaviour were offered over three days. The theoretical inputs could be put into practice in interactive workshops and excursions as well as in concrete problems.
Innovative solutions for key issues of the mobility transition were developed in four groups and finally presented at the international GI_Salzburg conference with almost 700 delegates. The Salzburg-related aspects of the group work were met with great interest, especially among local decision-makers.
The DyMoN summer school received great feedback from the participants. The organisation and communication during the summer school were especially well received as well as the contents of the lectures on geoinformatics and the introduction to behaviour change.
Bilder: © H.-Chr. Gruber, © wildbild, © Simon Haigermoser