Changing the Game on Climate Change

ACT, Australia - Nov. 12, 2017 - PRLog -- Everyone has an opinion about climate change—but few people in the public arena can explain how it really works.

We have come up with an innovative climate game to promote a better understanding of the science in the public arena: CO2peration. The game is designed to teach everyone the science of climate change — from star systems to molecules —and help to strengthen the alignment between the scientific consensus and that amongst the general public. The science content and pedagogical framework for the game are based on more than 10 years of teaching climate science as part of an environmental science outreach programme in Vienna as well as work in online learning and online pedagogies for science-based curriculum.

The prevailing view on climate change communication has been, for many years, that the 'knowledge deficit' model — a failure to fill scientific gaps in an individual's understanding —was ineffective.  However, recent research suggests this is not necessarily the case—that understanding climate science is not only worthwhile, but a key consideration when developing climate communication strategies. The problem in dismissing the knowledge deficit model was that early communicators were using 'fear appeals' (a focus on frightening impacts and predictions) to promote engagement rather than on teaching the actual phenomena that drive the climate system.  In addition, recent research is showing that earlier studies equated vague notions of climate science with specific climate literacy (particularly self-assessed scientific literacy) when, in fact, those included in the research were not particularly informed about the phenomena of climate science at all.

In addition to the scientific content, the game is being created with a team of game developers (game programmers, 3D artists and animators) and, as a serious game for climate change, will be a one-of-a-kind.  It's a world-first for many reasons - it's all about the science, and the interactive 3D game environment is designed to take people on a virtual journey into realms that they cannot otherwise go.  Modelled on all the probes, spacecraft and phenomena in space, CO2peration traverses the solar system and zooms down to the very material that makes up life, as we know it.  It's a journey to discover why we have water on Earth's surface—and the delicate balances that keep it there.  CO2peration has been designed to arm people with the facts. From students and teachers, serious gamers and climate scientists, to the people who just want to know what they're talking about at the water cooler—the aim of the game is to make sure everyone walks away more informed about climate science as well as to promote a better understanding of why it matters.

If you'd like to support the CO2peration game, click here (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/56215861/co2peration...) to help—there are some great rewards for those who pledge: from the mug's game mug to having the creators plant trees on your behalf, there's something for everyone. Get in early to get the best rewards—and change the game on climate change