Grassvasion Board Game

This invention is a National Science Foundation grant-funded semi-cooperative board game developed as an educational tool to teach players about the spread of invasive buffelgrass and fire risk management. Players assume different roles and earn points as individuals but may also work together cooperatively on shared goals to manage risk. This game would have an immediate audience in Southern Arizona to be distributed locally or nationally if possible.   

Background: 
Educational board games are a unique way to engage learners in fun, non-formal settings. Research has shown that game-based learning can help increase participation, foster social and emotional learning, and help players gain skills involving problem solving, interaction, and risk taking. Currently, there are little to no educational board games about invasive grass and fire risk management. The Grassvasion Board Game would fill this gap as a useful tool to teach players about buffelgrass and fire risk management. 

Applications: 

• Educational board games
• Environmental board games
• Cooperative board games
• Buffelgrass management education
• Fire risk management education

Advantages: 

• Educates players about buffelgrass and fire risk management
• Combines features of science-based and cooperative social games, illustrating scientific and social principles about a real-world problem
• Semi-cooperative game style that supports both individual and cooperative strategies
• Supported by NSF grant funding on Coupled Natural-Human Systems
• Fun way to learn about environmental issues