As part of an international research collaboration between Osaka University and the University of Northern British Columbia, I helped design "Guardians of the Planet", a multi-realm learning experience that uses a social robot to encourage children to adopt sustainable habits. The project introduces "Blossom", a single robot character that seamlessly exists across a 2D game, augmented reality (AR), and the physical world, creating a continuous learning journey that connects digital play with real-world environmental action.

Children first learn sustainability concepts through an interactive game, where Blossom introduces topics and quizzes them on their understanding. They then summon Blossom into their own environment using AR, where she guides and motivates them to complete real-world activities such as recycling. Finally, Blossom appears as a physical social robot to celebrate their achievements, reinforcing the connection between learning and action through a consistent narrative across all three realms.

Early playtesting with children showed that the experience made sustainability activities more enjoyable and engaging, while encouraging them to think about how their everyday actions can positively impact the environment. This work demonstrates how social robots, immersive technologies, and storytelling can be combined to transform sustainability education into an emotionally engaging experience that motivates children to turn learning into real-world behaviour.