The project “Change the Game”, led by researchers at the Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity of CNR was recently featured in the summer edition of L’Almanacco della Scienza, the national digital magazine of the CNR (visit at almanacco.cnr.it).
The initiative is designed to engage younger generations with the core themes of the Green Deal and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, using a tool that is both engaging and innovative: board games. At the heart of the project are serious games—educational games designed to entertain while teaching. Thanks to an interdisciplinary approach, a network of researchers from various CNR institutes across Italy – experts in fields ranging from natural sciences to science communication -developed playful educational tools to convey knowledge on urgent topics like ecological transition, social equity, and active citizenship to young audiences.
Serious games draw inspiration from traditional games, now reimagined through a scientific lens: strategy, teamwork, plot twists, and reasoning are all reinterpreted to explore complex issues in an engaging and approachable way. Being cited in Almanacco della Scienza is a recognition of the work done by researchers and of ISOF’s and CNR’s broader commitment to science outreach to the youth.
Let’s take a closer look at the games! “RawSeekers – Control raw materials, dominate strategic technologies“: inspired by the classic game Risiko, RawSeekers places players in a global competition for control over strategic raw materials, essential resources for producing advanced technologies. Using a world map, players explore how the geological and geopolitical distribution of critical elements – such as rare earths, lithium, and cobalt – affects the balance of power between nations and industrial supply chains. Real-world data is transformed into game mechanics, making complex concepts accessible even to younger audiences. RawSeekers is not just fun: it also sparks reflections on global resource inequality, international interdependence, and the urgent need for sustainable strategies to navigate the ecological transition. It immerses players directly into the global scenario.
“Mendeleev’s World“: an exciting collectible card game inspired by classics like Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. In an imaginative universe, each chemical element comes to life as a fantastical character with special abilities based on its real chemical and physical properties. Players compete through strategic card combinations that reflect the real-world applications of these elements in the energy transition. The game mechanics include references to critical raw materials, renewable energy sources, and environmental policies, allowing players to actively and enjoyably learn how chemistry underpins the sustainable technologies of the future.
So far Change the Game network has developed more than ten educational games designed to creatively and effectively tackle major topics related to sustainability, energy, and technological innovation. These tools are mainly used in educational settings: games have already been distributed to teachers in schools of all levels, aiming to support traditional teaching methods and connect with the language and interests of the new generations. The project is based on the 5E educational model – Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate – which allows the creation of dynamic and engaging learning paths that activate students cognitive, emotional, and relational dimensions. Through play, knowledge becomes experience and learning translates into awareness!
You can explore the project in detail here:
🔗https://www.changegame.cnr.it/
You can read the article on l’Almanacco here:
🔗https://almanacco.cnr.it/articolo/13914/i-serious-games-preparare-i-giovani-un-futuro-sostenibile