Meike Sauerwein, PhD
Meike Sauerwein, PhD, is a lecturer in the Division of Environment and Sustainability at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where she focuses on helping learners understand complex sustainability challenges through engaging, interactive design. Her work includes developing gamified teaching tools and educational games such as The L.O.O.P. and MilkCo. ā€“ The Life Cycle Challenge, which make life cycle assessment and sustainable consumption tangible and relevant. Meikeā€™s commitment to innovative, learner-centered teaching has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Common Core Course Excellence Awards (2021, 2024) and the Times Higher Education Award Asia (2023).
From Farm to Fridge: The Milk Life Cycle Challenge
This session immerses participants in a game-based simulation that makes environmental impact, trade-offs, and systems thinking tangible. Led by Meike Sauerwein, players step into the role of a milk company supplying a coffee shop while responding to rising expectations for lower environmental impact. In the first phase, teams race against time to map a complete milk life cycle, revealing how speed, assumptions, and gaps affect carbon accounting and decision-making.
In the second phase, the focus shifts from speed to strategy. Players redesign their production systems using eco-design principles by fundraising, investing in R&D, and phasing out outdated technologies. As scores shift, participants see how game decisions translate into real-world sustainability data and outcomes, connecting play directly to practice.
Takeaway: Sustainability decisions become clearer when systems, trade-offs, and data are experienced, not just explained.
