Locally and Globally – Łukasiewicz – PORT Promotes Science Through Play

Last weekend, the Łukasiewicz – PORT campus turned into a game board full of scientific adventures. Family teams faced puzzles and experiments, discovering the secrets of science in an unusual form of a field game.

The institute’s grounds – usually closed to visitors – were opened to participants of the event. Along the route, they encountered microscopic stations, logical puzzles, physical and chemical experiments, and tasks requiring cooperation. Teams could relax in a picnic-style chill-out zone and talk to scientists.

– Our goal was to combine fun with learning about the world through hands-on experience. We wanted participants – regardless of age – to feel that science is accessible, interesting, and can surprise them – says Adrian Patej, co-author of the game and science educator at Łukasiewicz – PORT. – That’s why we used elements of gamification – we created a game structure that included points, challenges, and a narrative introduction. This works much more effectively than a traditional lecture – even for adults.

The experience gained while organizing educational events at the institute was recently presented by Adrian Patej at the international ECSITE Conference – European Network of Science Centres and Museums – held at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. It is one of the largest science popularization events in Europe, bringing together around 1,000 participants from over 50 countries: educators, exhibition designers, representatives of scientific institutions, and companies supporting science communication. In his presentation, Adrian Patej demonstrated how to design field games within a scientific institution and how to effectively use gamification in education.

– Gamification in education is not a passing trend – it’s a method that significantly increases engagement, motivation, and the effectiveness of learning. By using mechanisms known from games, we convey knowledge, but also teach logical thinking, teamwork, and drawing conclusions – he emphasized during his presentation, in which he showcased four original mini field games.

Initiatives such as the field game at Łukasiewicz – PORT are part of current and effective trends in science communication across Europe. The event was organized as part of a project co-funded by the Ministry of Education and Science under the program “Social Responsibility of Science II” (agreement no. POPUL/SN/0366/2023/01).