By implementing the BC4ECO project, our primary objective was to enhance European higher education’s capacity to integrate Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) with Environmental Engineering, Behavioral Psychology, and Design Thinking at the Master’s level. Our aim was to equip future computer science professionals and related disciplines with the interdisciplinary skills needed to design decentralised applications addressing strategic environmental challenges. The project intended to foster a ‘green’ and decentralised mindset through an innovative pedagogical framework and a validated curriculum, including modular courses and open digital educational resources. Additionally, we aimed to establish a robust digital ecosystem promoting interdisciplinary peer-to-peer collaboration, facilitating practical project development, and ensuring wide dissemination and adoption across European universities.
We applied for the BC4ECO project because environmental sustainability represents the most pressing global challenge, urgently requiring innovative and transformative solutions. And it needs a multidisciplinary approach where Design, Computer science and Environmental Engineering inform each others. Our decision was driven by the critical need to influence human behaviors towards eco-friendly actions and enhance accountability through reliable technological tools. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), including Blockchain, presents unprecedented opportunities in promoting transparency, traceability, and accountability in environmental actions. However, existing higher education programs inadequately address the potential for leveraging DLT in non-financial domains, particularly environmental sustainability. Our motivation stems from recognizing a significant gap: higher education institutions across Europe currently lack comprehensive curricula that integrate DLT with crucial interdisciplinary fields such as Environmental Engineering, Behavioral Psychology, and Design Thinking. Such a gap limits the development of innovative solutions necessary for inducing meaningful social and behavioral change towards sustainability.