From Data to Data Games: Exploring Public Engagement with Scientific Information through Serious Game Design Workshops

We explored the use of Serious Game Design Workshops as a tool for engaging citizens in the dissemination of scientific knowledge to the public. Using research data on forest ecosystems and their dynamics, we ran four workshops which sought to bridge the gap between complex environmental information and public understanding. During these workshops, a total of 88 participants – all non-experts concerning forest ecosystems – created storyboards for 20 diverse game concepts which to varying degrees integrated scientific content into different types of gameplay. A preliminary analysis of the produced game concepts suggest that our workshops were able to foster creativity, enhance environmental education, and promote public engagement with scientific knowledge. However, challenges such as variability in participants' prior knowledge and workshop materials affected outcomes. We conclude by discussing future refinements and suggesting methods to improve the educational and communicative potential of serious games workshops for scientific dissemination.