♻️ Systematic Review Published: Gamification & Food Waste
Our paper:
"Managing Food Waste Through Gamification and Serious Games: A Systematic Literature Review"
has just been published in the MDPI journal Information (Open Access).
This paper was written in collaboration with my supervisors, Cláudia Sevivas (IADE/UNIDCOM) and Vítor Carvalho (IPCA/LASI), and presents a systematic review of game-based strategies for food waste reduction across all stages of the food supply chain. The review explores both serious games and gamification, evaluating their effectiveness in shifting behaviors and promoting sustainability.
🤔 Why MDPI?
Yes, I'm aware MDPI can be a polarizing topic in academia. Even so, I chose it for this work — and here's why:
- This is my first journal publication, and I wanted a platform that supports a clear, open-access pathway.
- Many journals today no longer accept literature reviews — especially hand-crafted ones — due to the rise of AI-generated submissions.
- MDPI offered open access, visibility, and a fair editorial process in this case.
- I’m doing research out of personal interest. I’m not a full-time PhD student — I work full-time and receive no financial benefit from publishing, quite the opposite.
While opinions on MDPI vary, this journal gave me a legitimate way to share rigorous, meaningful work on a topic I deeply care about. The editorial process was professional and constructive, and the topic needed reach and accessibility — which MDPI enables well.
This is part of my ongoing PhD research on food waste reduction through digital game-based interventions. Feel free to get in touch if this aligns with your work or interests!