Live-Action Role-Playing for Public Science Engagement

This Open Science Container presents a design-based study of Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) as a method for public engagement in astrophysics. Based on three interventions focused on research into exoplanets, the study examines how participants engage with scientific data through role-play, negotiation and symbolic action. The analysis focuses on the dynamics of the Magic Circle, the shifting boundary between play and reality, by tracking emotional responses, modes of engagement and thematic elements. The container contains the full series of co-occurrence matrices for the interventions, the optimisation process, hub and edge files, network visualisations and the internal Exploring Exoplanets Handbook that was used during the sessions.