Cosplaying…for science! How to design outreach scientific activities using cosplay and roleplay.
Summary:
How can people connect their interests in pop culture with science? We create events to do just that! We share how to produce and evaluate these events.
Description:
Do you have science knowledge or expertise? Are you interested in pop culture, nerd culture, or gaming? Have you ever wondered if you can unite those two expertises by attending events like GenCon or comic cons? Cosplay For Science creates and researches pop-up museums, panel discussions, and other events that help connect people’s everyday interests (i.e., gaming) and scientific ideas. This seminar describes events we create and ways to evaluate their effectiveness. Past events have included an event in which scientists used creatures from Dungeons and Dragons’ Feywild as an analogue for invasive species; cosplaying as Pokemon professors and discussing evolution and speciation at a panel discussion; and creating a “Museum of the Multiverse” about insects in which undergraduates cosplayed and described how various properties (i.e. Everdell) use real-life science concepts in game design.
Dungeons, Dragons and Science!: Creating educational TTRPG materials for classrooms and clubs.
Summary:
A professor shares his experiences creating TTRPG materials inspired by real-world biology to teach scientific concepts and problem solving to students in grades 6-12 in both class and club settings.
Description:
Reasoning, problem solving and teamwork/collaboration are vital skills for scientific inquiry and learning in general. These same skills are a key part of most table-top role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. It is this overlap that opens a door to exploring new ways of building these skills both in and out of the classroom. In this presentation, Dr. Phil Anderson, an associate professor of biology at the University of Illinois, will present the conception, development and application of D&D and other TTRPG materials for use in 6-12 science education. These include homebrew mechanics for creatures and player items based in actual biology as well as a series of connected modules which introduce core concepts in biology such as biomechanics, ecology, genetics and invasive species. All the materials will eventually be freely available for download by educators and gamers alike.
You are a rag-tag group of adventurers, the best the local University could afford, tasked with investigating unusual attacks in a nearby town; if you don’t get lost in the corn maze first.
Description:
Something is not right in the township of Shelford Hills. Unexplained attacks keep occurring, but the culprits elude capture. Worse, the culprits appear to be monsters! Eyewitnesses at the stables, the local inn and even the World Famous Corn Maze speak of horrendous creatures terrorizing the townsfolk. However, the creatures they describe resemble nothing native to the area. Dr. Bruce Bruceson, professor of multiversal ecology at Wottsamatta University has enlisted your band of adventures, the best he could afford with department funds, to solve these mysteries. This D&D one-shot involves unusual creatures based in real-world biology, run by a biology professor, although no prior scientific knowledge is required to play. The adventure is tuned for level 5 characters using 2024 rules. Pre-generated characters will be available.
Feywild Invasion Biology: Scientific Outreach Activities Using Cosplay & Role Play
Summary:
A professor shares his experience utilizing cosplay and TTRPG themes to create inclusive and effective outreach events that teach non-scientists biological concepts through role play activities.
Description:
Our world is deeply dependent on the understanding and application of scientific data and inquiry particularly for issues of conservation and environmental change. However, there is often a disconnect between scientific ideas and peoples everyday lives. Cosplay For Science is an initiative that researches and implements best practices in science communication, using an innovative approach of cosplay in which scientists participate in an immersive experience for general audiences built on popular culture such as comic book or TTRPG worlds. This seminar describes two such events held this previous year where visitors partook in activities themed around an invasion of the Central USA by magical creatures of the Feywild to expose them to concepts and techniques conservation biologists use to detect, prevent and manage invasive biological species.