In this piece, titled «Aventureros al tren: juego de mesa, viajes de servicio y sostenibilidad», Martín talks about the sustainability of travelling by train when going somewhere around Spain. He shares his reflections inspired by his personal experience this summer when travelling to Oviedo for a scientific congress.
He explains how, after this trip to Oviedo and discussions within an ICMAB's Sustainability Committee meeting, he prepared a comparative map on how to reach different cities in Spain and southern France, by train and by plane, highlighting the differences between the two in terms of carbon footprint
Martín establishes aswell a playful parallel between this map and the board game Ticket to Ride (created by Alan R. Moon), pointing out the inequalities in rail connections across Spanish cities and the similarities with game mechanics.
The cities with air connections are marked with the airplane symbol. For each of them, the minimum train travel time is indicated, along with a comparative estimate of the carbon footprint per passenger for both modes of transport. / Map: Daniel Martín. [CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT]
He closes the article with this thought: "Good board games teach that thinking long-term usually leads to better results. And on the sustainability board, we're all playing the same game: the future of the planet. For my next trip to Oviedo, this time, I'll prioritize taking the train".
It is a very interesting and engaging lecture, which you can read here. A good way to connect science, personal experience and sustainability!
More articles by Daniel Martín in Ciencia ante el Espejo CSIC blog
«Poesía sobre física» de Daniel Martín Jiménez (ICMAB-CSIC) | Delegaciones CSIC
