Science Breakthroughs Success Stories: Grace James

Global Call Category Science Engagement

The entrepreneur leveraging the gamification of social issues and climate challenges to educate and empower African youth.  

Grace James was a Falling Walls Science Engagement 2025 Finalist with her project: GreenQuest—Breaking the Wall to Climate Education Through Gamification. As the founder and game producer of GreenQuest Innovations, she promotes the use of interactive storytelling and gamified learning to educate children on climate challenges, sustainability and adaptation. The project has already reached thousands of young people, empowering underserved communities and leading tangible social impact in Africa.  

We asked Grace about the inspiration behind GreenQuest, the project’s real-world impact and the next walls to fall in the search for climate solutions.  

Can you tell us about your project and the inspiration behind it? 
GreenQuest Innovations designs game-based learning experiences that help people understand climate science through exploration, decision-making and play. The idea came from learning how disengaged many learners are about climate issues and how powerful games can be at turning complexity into curiosity and action. 

How do you see the future of gamified learning and climate education? 
Gamified learning will move from awareness-raising to skill-building, helping learners practice real-world climate decisions in safe, simulated environments. The next big shift will be towards deeper integration with schools, communities and policy conversations, and away from standalone games. 
 

What real-world impact do you hope your project will have in the next five to ten years? 
I hope GreenQuest helps create a generation that feels confident engaging with climate science and solutions, not overwhelmed by them. Long term, that means more informed choices, stronger civic engagement and climate action that’s grounded in understanding. 

In your view, what should investors and funding bodies be focusing on right now? 
Funders should prioritise projects that combine scientific credibility with accessibility and measurable impact. Supporting tools that translate complex science into action, especially for young and underrepresented audiences, is critical right now. 
 

How has the Global Call programme supported or influenced your work? 
The Global Call has helped validate our approach and connect us with a wider network of science engagement practitioners. It encouraged us to sharpen both our impact metrics and our storytelling around why play is so crucial in climate education. 
 

What are the next walls to fall, and which should fall next? 
One wall already falling is the idea that science education must be passive or purely academic. The next wall should be the divide between learning and doing, with education directly empowering people to participate in real climate solutions. 

Unsubscribe any time. You’ll find our data privacy policy here.