Over the past few weeks, SPOON has taken its first steps in Braunschweig, launching a series of introductory meetings that brought together local stakeholders committed to shaping the city’s emerging Citizen Science Lab (CSL). These encounters marked the start of a common effort to build a community around sustainable food systems and solutions to avoid waste.

Organised by our partner, University of Arts Braunschweig – Institute for Design Studies (HBK), the meetings introduced SPOON’s vision and opened a lively space for dialogue among representatives of community food initiatives, neighbourhood centres, local authorities, and the hospitality and food service sector.

Discussions led to connections and ideas on how to inspire more sustainable ways of living and eating. Participants exchanged stories and perspectives, showing a genuine commitment to engage their own communities and keep the conversation growing.

These first exchanges planted the seeds of a local community that will continue to shape and strengthen the Citizen Science Lab through shared learning, creativity, and collective action.

Cover picture by Samuel Yongbo Kwon on Unsplash