IGEE at Yonsei University

Research and Activity Objectives and Content   This study aims to examine the issue of plastic pollution from an academic perspective and to develop practical tools that enable young people to make meaningful behavioral changes in daily life. To achieve this, a mobile application will be developed to systematically track individual plastic usage, promote behavioral change through gamification and personalization, and visualize reduction results to raise environmental awareness and encourage sustainable habits.

Research and Activity Plans or Methodology   A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative research will be used. A preliminary survey will assess participants’ environmental awareness and plastic consumption patterns. Participants will then use the application for a set period, and the collected data will be analyzed to track patterns and persistence of behavior change. At the end of the study, a post-survey will compare changes in awareness and behavior, and focus group interviews will be conducted to explore deeper experiences and motivations that cannot be fully captured by surveys.

Expected Effects and Follow-up Plans   This research is expected to yield both environmental and social-academic significance.

Environmentally, if 100 users reduce their monthly plastic use by an average of 15% through the app, the total reduction can be quantified, demonstrating that small-scale behavioral changes can lead to measurable environmental impact.

Socially and culturally, the study aims to promote a cultural shift in how environmental action is perceived. By incorporating gamified elements and community functions, the app transforms environmental behavior from a moral obligation into an engaging, participatory activity. Motivation through achievement and friendly competition can lead to lasting behavior change, while positive experiences shared via social media and peer groups can spread voluntary participation in environmental protection. Academically, the collected data and analysis will serve as empirical resources for future studies on environmental behavior change. Finally, the study emphasizes scalability and sustainability. The developed mobile application can be distributed widely without geographic limitation, and multilingual support (e.g., English, Chinese) will be added in future versions. To ensure long-term sustainability, the project will explore potential revenue models and conduct follow-up studies for continuous development.