4–8 May 2026
CERN
Europe/Zurich timezone
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Using co-design to improve computing carbon calculators

7 May 2026, 13:00
25m
500/1-001 - Main Auditorium (CERN)

500/1-001 - Main Auditorium

CERN

400
Show room on map

Speaker

Dr Christina Bremer (University of Cambridge)

Description

Computing carbon calculators enable researchers to quantify and visualise the environmental impacts of their computations, thereby identifying high‑impact changes and exploring mitigation strategies. However, they currently have several limitations, including their limited performativity (i.e., they lead to limited behavioural changes) and their “black-boxed” design in which calculation methodologies and assumptions are hidden from users. Their interface is also generally designed by the team building them with little or no input from the community. To address these limitations, we conducted two online co-design workshops with experts in design and environmental assessments and users of the Green Algorithms Calculator. Using this calculator as an example, the workshops each included two co-design sessions with a focus on “de-black-boxing”, output presentation, and calls to action. This talk provides an overview of the workshops and initial results to help inform the design, development, and use of computing carbon calculators within the SC4RC community.

Author

Dr Christina Bremer (University of Cambridge)

Co-authors

Dr Marcia Tavares Smith (Lancaster University) Clément Morand (Université Paris-Saclay) Loïc Lannelongue (University of Cambridge)

Presentation materials