Keynote Speaker
| Title | Using a Serious Game Called “Aqua Republica” to Make a Difference |
| Speaker | Ivan Boo Event Manager, UNEP DHI Eco Challenge Series Secretary & Founding Member, Serious Games Association (Singapore) |
Abstract
Gaming is no longer strictly associated with entertainment. It is definitely a new strategy to more effectively engage our younger generation of learners. Games provide rich, realistic, immersive learning environments through which players can build knowledge, skill and competencies directly aligned with the real world. Simulation games immerse students in artificial decision-making exercises allowing them to learn the consequences of their decisions in artificial environments. With the “opportunity to fail” in an artificial environment, students will became more confident in their own ability and competence to perform effectively in real World challenging situations, and they will have greater motivation to attain the desired outcome. In this session, I will share with you how we use a water management game called “Aqua Republica” to create an international online competition; involve the government agencies & NGOs; excite the industry players and develop a sustainable summer camp to educate students on climate science and social issues.
Biography
Ivan founded the Serious Games Association (Singapore) and soon developed and managed the first Serious Games Conference in 2012. The following year, he collaborated with UNEP-DHI Center and the Hydroinformatics Society (Singapore) to run the 1st Asian Eco Challenge using the a game called Aqua Republica. Since then, he has been promoting the use of games in both the education and healthcare industry.
