Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers e.V. (GSO) reposted this
🎲What if we stopped explaining and started playing? That was the starting point of the latest AlumNode GameLab, where we explored how #board #games can do more than entertain. They can engage, #emotionally and #intellectually, and make people genuinely curious about your #research. Demian Nahuel Goos Bosco, PhD shared how he turned his research on the #history of #mathematics, specifically a little-known case of academic plagiarism involving Georg Cantor, into a playable story: ➡️ "Who stole my paper?!" is a social deduction game where players become historical figures, one of whom steals a colleague’s work. The rest must figure out who did it. Yes, we played it on Zoom. Yes, with eyes closed. And yes, it worked. 🎯 Why board games work in #science #communication: ✅ They create #emotional #entry #points, through tension, humor, and surprise. ✅ They encourage #participation instead of passive listening. ✅ They make space for #complexity, without requiring it upfront. ✅ They help audiences feel the topic before understanding it. ✅ They can be tailored to your own field or research story. Demian also shared how he uses game elements in his teaching, turning abstract theorems into hands-on cardboard puzzles that students actively play to solve. ➡️ His advice? Balance fun with depth, and never underestimate the power of a good story. Thanks to everyone who joined the session. More Game Labs are in the works - stay tuned! Have you ever used a game to explain your research? Or played one that made you think differently? We’d love to hear about it! #alumnode #gamelab #scicomm