How Gamers are changing the world with citizen science
Gamers are the world’s largest group of scientists. When you play games like Borderlands 3 and Eve Online you can contribute to cutting edge research. Scientists have a problem with data...there is just too much of it! By utilizing Citizen Science, gamers are able to band together and help change the world. In this video we speak with game developers, players and top researchers who have helped bring Citizen Science into the world of gaming.
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen Science is when everyday people contribute to scientific research. When one thinks about science it is easy to imagine a person wearing a white coat and mixing chemicals in a laboratory. Contrary to that stereotype, there are many outlets where ‘regular’ folks can do their part to further scientific endeavors. Source
What is the largest group of Citizen Scientists?
While citizen science can be seen all around the world, the largest numbers of contributors live online … in gaming! As explained in the above video, game developers and researchers have worked together to integrate scientific research into many large AAA games. While players exterminate aliens, solve epic quests and compete with friends online they are able to spend small amounts of effort to help scientists tackle real world problems. Players may be putting in small amounts of time into the science portion of these games, but with millions of players contributing they are able to complete tasks that would take traditional scientists hundreds of years to finish. Source
What video games have Citizen Science in them?
The trend is growing and game developers are hopping on the Citizen Science train. Borderlands 3 and EVE online are two of numerous games that have built Citizen Science into their gameplay.. Borderlands 3 has has partnered with the Microsetta Initiative which is working to map the biome of our guts in a similar way to how the Human Genome Project mapped out our DNA. EVE online has integrated research games that are helping scientists uncover information about COVID-19. You can learn more about how science is being integrated into gaming in the video above. Source
How can you get involved in Citizen Science?
One easy way to be a contributor is to simply play games like Borderlands 3 and EVE online! Both of the video games have citizen science built right in. In Borderlands 3 you can play a mini game called Borderlands Science. It is a pattern recognition game that is helping map out the biomes of our guts. EVE online has numerous games built into their gameplay as well. In EVE online players can help locate exoplanets and contribute to research regarding Covid-19. You can contribute further by playing games like Foldit. Learn more about how the science within these games works by watching the video above. Source
Explore something new
