Energetic Press:
Grist: 5 board games for a world that’s falling apart 6/16/20
Nature: Fell, M.J., Schneiders, A. Make fun of your research. 5/6/20.
Grist: Johnson, N. Save New York with this board game 3/17/20
Energetic Partners and Supporters:
“Simulating the role of different stakeholders helped the students better understand the real-world constraints…I’m excited to hear that you are considering developing new games and would be happy to collaborate.” Paulina Jaramillo, Carnegie Mellon University, Letter of Support
“I love this game and want to help make it successful and widely used. I am looking forward to working with you as you continue to develop it…” Jonathan Gilligan, Vanderbilt University, Letter of Support
“Energetic provides a valuable perspective on the many challenges involved in transitioning to renewable energy in New York, from the needs of diverse stakeholders to the impact of politics and the need for community engagement. The game requires cooperation, and in exploring this daunting task, models a process of achieving real change through collaboration and strategic thinking.” Sandra Goldmark, Barnard College • Columbia University, Letter of Support
“We’re excited to use Energetic in our W!se Institute programs in New York City public high schools, where we teach a curriculum about sustainability and help students explore how to leverage potential career opportunities available through new sustainable business strategies. Energetic brings science, politics, financing, infrastructure building and much more to life. It’s a great educational tool.” Kristy Nguyen, W!se Institute NYC; W!se creates specialized teaching modules for New York City public high schools, and Energetic has become part of their new sustainability module. – Letter of Support
“We’re excited to work with City Atlas to develop a version of Energetic for the Caribbean. It’s essential to teach students about the future, and to bring the public on board with the changes we need to make. Energetic rapidly conveys the scope of change and the timetable, in a way that lets players learn through making their own choices.” Dr. Greg Guannel and Ariel Stoltz, Caribbean Green Technology Center, University of the Virgin Islands – Letter of Support
“We face an urgent demand in explaining climate change and resiliency to the public. Energetic gives us a powerful tool to make the situation and the solutions clear in a single two-hour event. We look forward to using Energetic to teach our community about energy, climate change, and the importance of resiliency.” Tim Sevcik Gilman, RETI Center, Resilience and Sustainability Nonprofit; Red Hook, Brooklyn – Letter of Support
“I teach and research energy and climate issues at Lancaster University. I love Energetic. I tested it out with my teenage kids, who said ‘it works well and it really teaches you things about energy without being annoying and educational’. From my point of view, I really like the fact that it reflects all of the challenges in moving to sustainable energy – including the political and public opinion challenges. It really gives you a feel for what it might be like to be a legislator bringing a Green New Deal into being. It was both exhilarating and frustrating to play, much like real life. I will definitely be setting it as coursework for my students.” Rebecca Willis, Expert Lead on the UK Climate Assembly, Letter of Support
Also advising us: Julien Dossier, co-author of the sustainability plan for Paris, Paris 2050
The game’s potential to depolarize the discussion of climate and energy is shown in Jen Bradham’s class at Wofford College in South Carolina.
Context for Energetic:
A Twitter thread from David Wallace-Wells
“The coronavirus has produced an unprecedented drop in carbon emissions. But to avoid catastrophic warming of two degrees Celsius, we need to cut emissions 50% faster still, every single year this decade.”
“Social tipping dynamics for stabilizing Earth’s climate by 2050” Otto, et al. PNAS February 2020
“[Social tipping interventions] in the education system.
Many examples of research confirm the role of education in social transformations (114) and tackling climate change concerns (115, 116)…While many teachers include some, often thin, coverage of climate change (117), comprehensive approaches at all levels of public education are still rare. Lack of knowledge about the causes, impacts, and solutions to climate change was the most easily identifiable individual barrier to engagement in climate action…(118)”