# games I've always been a fan of both tabletop and video games, and have come to see them as an excellent medium for both education and science communication. Games can convey scientific information in diverse ways through their rules, mechanics, and overall play experience. In particular, I strive to design fun, engaging games that also pack in a lot of science instead of only using science/nature as a theme. ## Loam ![[Pasted image 20230728223349.png]] Loam is a set-matching strategy game about building healthy soils. Players take control of plants who are all about that sort of thing, and use chemical inputs from their roots to recruit beneficial animals and microbes from the ever-shifting soil. Assembling diverse communities, unlocking powerful behaviors, and keeping a balance of soil structure, nutrients, and food web are the keys to victory! Along with my fellow game designers at [Cardboard Revolution ](https://www.cardboardrevolution.com/), I successfully crowdfunded an official release of Loam to the broader gaming public, though of course, the [digital](https://screentop.gg/@Vermivorax/loam) version remains free for educational use. A printable version is forthcoming. > [!Learning Objectives] > After playing and discussing Loam, students will be able to: > - Describe the major taxonomic and functional groups within soil. > - Explain how different organisms contribute to soil health. > - Explain linkages between soil biodiversity and ecosystem services. > - Predict properties of hypothetical soil ecosystems. ## Pest Quest ![[Pasted image 20230728223359.png]] Pest Quest is a cooperative game of strategy, uncertainty, and sticky traps, designed to teach concepts of Integrated Pest Management. Players take on four unique roles - Farm Manager, Scout, Applicator, and Extension Agent - to bring peace and profit to a pest-plagued farm. They experience first-hand the challenges of modern agriculture as they make decisions based on incomplete information, balance environmental and economic priorities, and if all goes well, just barely eke out a profit. Just like real farming! Pest Quest was designed collaboratively between myself, Dr. Matt Grieshop of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Dr. Tim Lampasona of Vassar College. You can play Pest Quest [online](https://screentop.gg/@Vermivorax/pest-quest-class) or [print it out](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MvWv8HbfVNO9TgHsX76l3PGWsKiBBrRB). >[! Learning Objectives] After playing and discussing Pest Quest, students will be able to: > - Explain basic IPM terminology. > - Explain the advantages and disadvantages of pesticide use in agriculture. > - Explain how a crop's relative value and pest susceptibility can affect management decisions. > - Appreciate the difficulty inherent to modern agriculture.