Who We Are and Why We Do SCIARA

Do Something Meaningful: Climate Protection

Do Something Meaningful: Climate Protection

In 2019, SCIARA ideator and co-founder Daniel Tamberg reflected, after nearly 30 years in the IT industry, on how he could use his knowledge and skills to do something even more meaningful with his life.

He recalled the almost decade-old observation he had had after reading the classic book “Limits to Growth”: In scientific models of climate and economics, people appear only as formulas and algorithms. What if instead scientific models of the natural and technical environment were brought together with real people as in a simulation game?

He contacted two scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) who work in the field of so-called agent-based systems. They saw the potential directly. Together they also convinced Johan Rockström, one of the institute’s directors, to let PIK accompany the project.


From What to How in 30 Minutes

From What to How in 30 Minutes

Enter Sebastian, co-founder of SCIARA: During a private visit, Daniel told him about the idea that is now called ClimateTimeMachine. Sebastian had just handed over his IT consulting company to a successor. He was immediately enthusiastic and had an idea how to get a team together: from other IT companies in his network of contacts.

(Sebastian has since taken his well-deserved retirement).


IT medium-sized companies make it possible

IT medium-sized companies make it possible

Six medium-sized German IT companies with climate-minded owners joined SCIARA GmbH. They provided team members free of charge for half a year, with whom SCIARA developed the very first demonstration version: iteratec, QualityMinds, MaibornWolff, tarent, doubleSlash, BetterCallPaul.


Prof. Dr Johan Rockström: “This could be the next big step in social-ecological research!”

Prof. Dr Johan Rockström: “This could be the next big step in social-ecological research!”

That was followed by an official partnership with the PIK and the German Society of the Club of Rome, a first successful crowdfunding supported by the Scientists for Future and many other climate protection organisations, and a funding by the Deutsche Bundestiftung Umwelt – and of course lots of software development and test runs with real people.