Sparks of Change:
The Story Behind EcoQuest
In an environmental education lecture, the teacher parroted cursory information on climate change. Many dozed off or did their homework, and even the few who listened learned about governments’ roles, which they found irrelevant and unengaging. We wondered how we could set things right.
Our answer to this question was self-efficacy – because we kids want to be climate heroes too. We hypothesized when people see that their actions matter, they would become more interested in EE. Then, we came across NetZero@School, which had relevant content but issues with engaging delivery. As teenagers, we know what kids find fun, so we created EcoQuest.
Empower students to become climate leaders by transforming environmental education into an engaging, student-led experience that fosters self-efficacy, reduces real-world emissions, and inspires lifelong sustainable behavior through gamification.
EcoQuest's Vision
Lack of Relevance
Throughout our experience with climate education, we felt that the content wasn’t relevant to us. Although it emphasized the severity of climate change, environmental education taught what politicians can do, not what students can do.
Lack of Engagement
We sat through environmental education lectures where teachers read straight from a script. Most students tuned out or focused on homework. The lessons failed to spark interest, leaving the classroom dull and disengaged.
Lack of Behavior Change
Our environmental education focused so much on government policies that it left little room for individual action. We never learned practical ways to reduce carbon emissions. Consequently, we didn't feel motivated to take the initiative.
EcoQuest's Pain Points in Enviromental Education
4th
largest energy consumption among Korean building types is from education buildings
0.001%
of schools in Korea employs licenced EE teacher
0.04%
of schools in Korea include EE as their curriculum.
0.0033%
of Korean education budget was allocated to Environmental Education.
8,500,000
tons of CO2 released from schools in England annually
Sustainable Development Commission
4th
largest energy consumption among Korean building types is from education buildings
Seoul Board of Education
0.001%
of schools in Korea employs licenced EE teacher
0.04%
of schools in Korea include EE as their curriculum.
Pain Point of EE in Korea : In Statistics
15%
of public sector carbon emissions in England is from schools.
8%
of countries provide EE to at least 70% of students.
1/3
of teachers globally are able to explain climate change's effect locally.
8,500,000
tons of CO2 released from schools in England annually
8,500,000
tons of CO2 released from schools in England annually
Sustainable Development Commission
4th
largest energy consumption among Korean building types is from education buildings
Seoul Board of Education
0.001%
of schools in Korea employs licenced EE teacher
0.04%
of schools in Korea include EE as their curriculum.
Pain Point of EE Globally : In Statistics
Schools rank top places in carbon emissions in public buildings.
In England, 15% of public sector carbon emissions were from schools.
01 : Emission
Students in adolescence stage are uninhibited for changes in value set and are easier to form lifelong habits.
02 : Lifelong Change
When they return home, students influence their family members with their newly acquired learning.
03 : Household Influence
Students who adapt environmental values grow up to be future environmental leaders that impact the society as a whole.
04 : Climate Leaders
Unlike other age groups, schools can allocate environmental education in students' everyday schedule.
05 : Curriculum Integration
Because students are active in a common environment in a common time period, demand management and monitoring is convenient.
06 : Monitor & Control
OVERLOOKED BUT POWERFUL.
Although overlooked, Schools are the key stakeholders in carbon emission reduction.
Leanne Yoon
Leanne built a team of like-minded youth innovators invested in enhancing environmental education. She first came across NetZero@School as a student director of a partnering organization. Presenting with them at COP28 inspired her to bring what NetZero@School gifted her to others as well. Leanne draws from her experience as an intern and student developer for NetZero@School and an intern at a multinational venture capital firm to steer the team in the best direction.
Lack of Engagement
Yujun Piao
Yujun, with his interest in various fields of computer science and entrepreneurship, acts as a bridge between the tech and business departments and the organizer who keeps the team on track. He joined the team reminiscing his childhood experience of looking up at the Mongolian night filled with stars, concerned at the dark starless sky in Korea and its future. Utilizing his experience of winning first place in various software entrepreneurship competitions in Korea, Yujun bridges the gap between ideas and reality.
Lack of Engagement
Sally Sihyeon Lee
Sally is the driving force behind EcoQuest’s product design and vision. Her childhood observation of stark environmental differences between cityscapes and suburban areas in her hometown shaped her advocacy for equitable access to clean environments for all, starting with education. Today, she channels her passion into actionable solutions through EcoQuest, where her award-winning writing skills and creativity fuel its mission.
Lack of Engagement
Paul Seungjun Lee
Seungjun specializes and takes the lead in developing the technical aspects of EcoQuest with a strong background of winning several competitive programming and software developing competitions. Seungjun's passion for environmental sustainability stems from his experiences growing up in a region affected by extreme weather conditions, which heightened his awareness of the urgent need for climate action. This deeply rooted connection to the cause inspired him to channel his technical expertise into creating EcoQuest, combining his love for programming with a mission to educate and inspire the next generation to adopt eco-friendly habits.
Lack of Engagement
Team EcoQuest
Engagement Matters.
A typology research of teenagers’ climate change awareness in Germany and Austria found that 25% of students feel "disengaged" in Environmental Education. Just by fostering engagement, EE can bring impact to 1 in 4 students.