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From Practicing Sewing, Laser-wood Cutting, and Card Creation, Follow the Progress in Making Climatopia™ a Reality!

Spring 2024 Research and Communication Team

NC Campus Engagement’s 2024 Pathways to Achieving Civic Engagement (PACE) Conference:

The Spring 2024 Research and Communication Team presented at the annual PACE Conference on February 14, 2024 at Guilford College in Greensboro as part of the “Empowering Students as Colleagues” block. Their presentation, “Expanding Collaborative Engagement through Student-Led Climatopia™ Iterative Game Development,” can be found HERE. 

The Climatopia team (six women of various ages and races) stand holding up a game board.
Dr. Willis, Peyton, Hannah, Elle, Sydney, and Halle hold up the game materials that they used as visual aids at the PACE Conference.

YES Resilience Training Session:

In March 2024, the Research and Communication Team led a training session for the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Youth Engaging in the Science of Resilience: Sensing the Environment and Envisioning Solutions (YES Resilience: SEE Solutions) team. They taught the YES Resilience team how to play and teach Climatopia™ as part of their own work in building youth environmental health literacy.

K-12 Science Education Manager Dana Haine and Environmental Education Specialist Taylor Prichard play the game with Elle and Peyton.
Center for Public Engagement with Science Director Kathleen Gray asks Sydney a quiz card question.
Sydney, Kathleen, Hannah, Research Assistant Anna Butler and Project Coordinator Victoria Triana play Climatopia™.
Peyton, Elle, Kailey, Dana, and Taylor discuss Climatopia™ game instructions.

Tenth Annual UNC Cleantech Summit:

Climatopia™ was featured as an exhibitor for the second year in a row at the 2024 UNC Cleantech Summit on March 21 and 22. At the Summit — the largest event of its kind by an American university — the Research and Communication Team promoted Climatopia™ and informed educators, businessmen, and students from the Triangle area and across the world on the game’s importance in teaching people of all ages about climate change disaster preparedness and community building.

Sydney, Peyton, Dr. Willis, and members of Dr. Willis’ American Studies (AMST) 277 class all attended the Cleantech Summit and spread the word about Climatopia™!
Peyton, UNC Provost Christopher Clemens, and Sydney stand at the Climatopia™ exhibition booth.

UNC Science Expo:

Members of the Spring 2024 Research and Communications Team presented at one of the largest scientific events in the state of North Carolina, engaging visitors of all ages by playing Climatopia™ and teaching them about game development.

Elle helps a player decide whether or not to purchase a Resource Card during a game of Climatopia™.
Hannah smiles as she shows a young child and his parent the Climatopia™ game.
Peyton and Elle hold up the 2024 UNC Science Expo t-shirt in front of the Climatopia™ booth.
A young boy and his mother lean over a table in the foreground as a young woman sitting behind the table looks down at a board game.
Elle guides young players through Climatopia™ gameplay.

Fall 2023 Makers

Trip to Morehead Planetarium:

Student reaching out to move her piece on the game board while playing Climatopia with 3 others.
Kailey and Jackson play the game with a couple of new game players to teach them about climate resiliency.
Group of Climatopia students posing together behind Climatopia game board
Kailey, Rachel, Halle, and Jackson pose behind the Climatopia™ game board at the Morehead Planetarium.
Student sitting behind climatopia game board in the background of two guys
Halle playing Climatopia™ with new players at the Morehead Planetarium.
Side shot of table showing 2 different groups of 4 playing Climatopia
Fall 2023 Climatopia™ students playing the game with teenagers at the Morehead Planetarium.

In-Class Gameplay and Planning Charrette:

Group of fall 2023 students sit in desks while Dr. Rachel Willis talks to them
A group of Fall 2023 students plays Climatopia™ and discusses the game with Dr. Rachel Willis.
Rachel reaches out to move game piece while playing Climatopia with 3 other students
Jackson, Ashley, Rachel, and Spencer play the final version of Climatopia™ in class.
Group of Fall 2023 students holding up Climatopia fabric in the front of the class
Alex, Kim, Elle, Jackson, Halle, Sydney, and Dr. Rachel Willis stand in the front of the class with the final game fabric.
A woman filming four students in the front of the class
The game design committee presents rule changes to the class as Megan Mendenhall films.

Finished Fabric Designs and Fabrication Process:

Student Kim Navarro holding up yard of Climatopia fabric
Kim holding up the roll of Climatopia™ fabric in the BeAM Makerspace before she starts cutting and sewing.
Fall 2023 student in the process of sewing fabric
Emma sewing a game bag in the BeAM Makerspace sewing room.
Side by side pictures of the inward face game design bags on top of each other with pins holding them together
Side by side pictures of the inward face game design bags on top of each other with pins holding them together.
Fall 2023 draw string game bags laying on wood
Fall 2023 draw string game bags fully finished.

Laser Wood Designs/Creation:

Student looking at computer while she operated a laser-wood cutting machine
Rachel working with the laser wood cutting machine in the BeAM Makerspace lab to create the new game pieces.
2 students side by side as they create more laser wood game pieces
Ashley and Kailey working with the laser wood-cutting machine in the BeAM lab to create new game pieces.
6 wooden pieces for Climatpia laying next to eachother
The final laser-wood cut Climatopia™ game pieces.
the 6 Climatopia game pieces with synthetic wood background
Fall 2023 laser-wood cut game pieces.

Technical Writing Team Support:

Four female college students are sitting in a library at a table with laptops.
Grayson Dismukes (left), Hannah Garner, Peyton Wojcik, and Julia Barnett (right) are pictured above learning about the Climatopia™ game and how their technical writing skills can contribute to a better game and website.
Three women smile holding up blue bags.
The ENGL 411 team proudly shows the finished game board and newly sewn bags that they edited.

Leadership and Game Set-Up:

Climatopia game board set up on tabel with cards and pieces
Climatopia™ game board set up for filming of gameplay.
Halle and Sydney posing for a photo together in front of a window.
COO Sydney and CCO for the Outreach Division Halle take a picture together.
Climatopia game on desks with game cards and pieces
Final version of the Climatopia™ game with the latest game pieces and printed out game cards.

Spring 2023 Makers

Makerfest Conference (We placed 2nd Overall for Most Creative):

Group of students stand next to eachother while looking at Climatopia showcase at Makerfest
Current and previous Climatopia™ makers get together for a picture.
group of individuals gathered around a table, and engaging in a discussion regarding climatopia at the 2023 Makerfest
Dr. Rachel Willis explains the progress that the Spring 2023 makers made to former makers at the 2023 Makerfest.
Group of climatopia makers and Dr. Willis smiling at the camera for a group photo with Climatopia set-up
Spring 2023 and previous Climatopia™ makers posing in front of their showcase at the BeAM Makerfest.
Group of Climatopia makers standing with arms around eachother with one holding a Climatopia game bag.
Spring 2023 and previous Climatopia™ makers posing together with a sewn draw string Climatopia™ bag at the BeAM Makerfest.

Class Picture and CleanTech Summit:

Group of Spring 2023 students next to eachother holding different parts of climatopia
The Spring 2023 Climatopia™ team holding game boards and bags after a class.
Four students along with Professor Willis at the 2023 UNC Cleantech Summit.
Miles, Dasha, Pranav, Sydney, and Dr. Rachel Willis at the 2023 UNC Cleantech Summit.
More members of the team, presenting our work at the 2023 UNC Cleantech Summit.
Daniel, Pranav, Tiana, Julie, and Dr. Rachel Willis posing for picture at the 2023 UNC Cleantech Summit.
A man in a suit having a discussion with seated climatopia students
Karina and Shaurik field questions regarding Climatopia™ from another student at the Cleantech Summit.
3 Climatopia students showing a woman the gameplay of Climatopia
ZiZhou, Sydney, and Chris showcase the new game pieces to a presenter at the Cleantech Summit.
two Climatopia students showing two people the rules, cards, and game board of Climatopia.
Sydney and Julia presenting Climatopia™ to other students at the CleanTech Summit.
A student talking to another student at a table with Climatopia game board
Dasha answering questions from interested peers at the Cleantech Summit.
2 Climatopia students looking at another student who is writing on a yellow notebook
Shaurik and Karina receiving feedback and contact information.

Finished Fabric Designs and Fabrication Process:

Woman holding yard of Climatopia fabric behind table
Julia holding up pre-sewn Climatopia™ fabric.
Woman cutting along side of Climatopia fabric with scissors
Julia cutting the fabric for the Climatopia™ game board.
Sewing machine with scissors and fabric under it
Close in shot of sewing machine in action.
Sewing machine with climatopia fabric laying next to it
Mini game bags pinned together and ready to sew.
Full yard of climatopia fabric
All of the fabric before it was cut and sewed.
Game piece bag fabric
Finished Game Bag design on fabric.
Hand sewing needle laying on climatopia fabric
Close in shot of precision sewing on game board.
Light blue Climatopia game board, drawstring bag, and smaller game piece bag laying on hard-wood floor.
Finished game board, game bag, and mini bag.
Woman standing behind yard of climatopia fabric
Julia posing with the pre-sewn Climatopia™ fabric.
2 sewn climatopia bags on wooden floor
Sewn Climatopia™ drawstring and game-piece bags.

Laser Wood and 3D Game Piece Designs/Creation:

Front and back of laser wood designs in computer
Finalized front and back of laser wood pieces that are made to mass produce.
Front and back of wood piece designs
Early design for laser wood pieces.
Climatopia student using computer next to a laser wood cutter
Chris Harper working in the BeAM lab on the laser wood game pieces.
6 climatopia wooden pieces on piece of paper
The back of all of the finalized laser wood game pieces.
Laser wood cutter cutting a bunch of pieces
The laser wood cutter in the action of making the game pieces.
6 circular wooden game pieces
Early stages of the laser wood pieces.
Climatopia student operating a laser wood cutting machine to precisely cut wooden pieces.
Chris Harper using the laser wood cutter at the BeAM lab.
wooden first aid kit game piece
First Aid Kit laser cut game piece.
wooden game piece with flashlight
Flashlight laser cut game piece.
wooden game piece with boat and row
Rescue boat laser cut game piece.
wooden game piece with light bulb - globe design
Globe laser cut game piece.
wooden game piece with a fire hat
Fire hat laser cut game piece.
wooden game piece with a snow plow
Snow Plow laser cut game piece.
6 3D model game piece designs
Finalized 3D model game pieces.
First aid kit 3D design.
First aid kit 3D game piece design.
Globe 3D design.
Globe 3D game piece design.
Flashlight 3D design
Flashlight 3D game piece design.
Rescue boat 3D design
Rescue boat 3D game piece design.
Snow plow 3D design
Snow plow 3D game piece design.
Fire hat 3D design
Fire hat 3D game piece design.
Climatopia student operating a 3d printer
Pranav learning how to effectively use the 3D printer.
6 different shaped climatopia wooden pieces laying on glass surface
All of the new laser wood game pieces right off of the machine.
3D printed first aid kit and flashlight
Early Stages of the First Aid Kit and the Flashlight.
Various 3d game pieces on a paper plate
Prototypes of all the bio-degradable game pieces in various sizes.

Visiting Kidzu Children’s Museum:

Child holding game pieces while playing climatopia
Members of Climatopia™ playing the game with kids at the Kidzu Children’s Museum.
3 Climatopia students behind table with Climatopia on it
Karina, Gabby, and Tikiyah sharing Climatopia™ at Kidzu Children’s Museum.
Student celebrates while playing climatopia with game in front of him
Nathan Kimberly plays Climatopia™ at the Kidzu Children’s Museum which the Community Liasions set up.

Spring 2022 Makers

Fabrication Process:

Piece of lined paper with sketches of boxes
Drawing of bag resource links design in development.
Top of climatopia fabric showing hand sewn seam
Practicing sewing by hand.
sewing machine with fabric in it
Practicing with sewing machine.
3 students sewing fabric with a sewing machine
Cole Schmidt, Caroline Shields, and Juliana Koricke practicing sewing.
2 students cutting climatopia fabric on the ground
Cole Schmidt and Juliana Koricke cutting shipment of fabric.
5 climatopia drawstring bags on the ground
Completed game bags by Caroline Shields.
clear ruler layed on top of fabric
Marking measurements for game bag.
cut climatopia fabric layed over eachother
Cut Climatopia™ fabric.

Resource and Character Card Creation:

Completed Speedy Rescue boat character card
Game card with man on boat looking out in distance.
Completed Utility Crew character card
Game card with man utility truck looking down.
Pink Game card with snowflake icon at top right
Initial prototype of icon of resource card with the vinyl cutter.
Red game card with thermometer in middle and snowflake on top right
Initial prototype of thermometer icon with the vinyl cutter.
Yellow game card with hand holding flashlight
Initial prototype of FEMA character card with the vinyl cutter.
Game card with pencil, goggles, and Erlenmeyer flask on desk
Scientist character card.
Game card with hose next to fire with color
Completed Firefighter character card.
Game card of man holding flashlight colored in
Completed FEMA flashlight character card.
Game card with white background of man in hazmat suit
Initial prototype of CDC character card with the vinyl cutter.
Game card with man in hazmat suit colored in with green background
Completed CDC Character card.
Female student working on computer with game cards on her left
Jordan Jordan working on vinyl cutting design and cards in BeAM Makerspace.
Femal student cutting game cards
Betseat Tadiwos transferring vinyl cut stickers to game cards.
hands cutting small fan design
Transferring vinyl cut stickers for cards.
Resouce cards pre-cut on a big piece of paper
Resource cards printed on cardstock with vinyl stickers.

3D Game Pieces and Laser Wood Designs/Creation:

Beaker 3d design
Scientist beaker new deisgn issue shown in Cura software.
beaker 3D design standing upright
Scientist beaker new deisgn problem shown in Cura software.
2 beaker 3D design side by side - one standing up and one laying down
Scientist beaker new deisgn idea next to old one in Cura software.
3D design of rescue boats side by side
Speedy Boat Rescue game piece with paddles shown in Cura software.
red 3D design of rescue boat
Speedy Boat Rescue game piece with paddles shown in Cura software.
2 red 3d designs of flashlights
FEMA Flashlight new deisgn idea next to old one in Cura software.
3d designs of a fire hydrant, boat, flashlight, beaker, first aid kit, and utility truck
Updated Game Pieces Designs in Cura Software.
Physical printed 3D piece in orange
3D printing of game pieces.
3D game pieces printed out in various colors
Comparison of 2021 and 2022 Game Pieces.
3D game pieces printed out in orange
Draft of the six Climatopia game pieces.
Various white game pieces in the 3D printer in the process of being made
3D printing of fire hydrant and rescue boat game pieces.
Various green 3D pieces in 3D printer
3D mass printing of scientist beaker game piece.
Blue rescue boat pieces in 3D printer
3D mass printing of speedy rescue boat game piece.
Orange fire hydrant game pieces in 3D printer
3D mass printing of fire hydrant game piece.
sketch of wooden game pieces on lined paper
Drawing of new wooden game piece deisgn for laser cutting.
Design of wooden game pieces on computer
Design of wooden game pieces for laser cutting.
close up of laser wood cutter cutting pieces
Laser cutting of wooden game pieces.

Fall 2021 Makers

Presenting Climatopia™ at the Inaugural MakerFest (and winning 3rd place in the Interdisciplinary Category!):

woman in mask looks at table with climatopia game board and pieces
Group of 4 student stands behind table with all components of climatopia
Group of students standing with Dr. Willis holding a green ribbon
Group of students standing with Dr. Willis at the Makerfest.

Practice Sewing the Character Piece Bags:

Female student holding a brown bag
Jada Willse showing off her sewn drawstring bag.
Female student holding a blue patterned bag
Avery Brannan showing off her sewn drawstring bag.
Male student holding a green bag
Jack Roche showing off his sewn bag.
Student showing sewing kit that is held inside a bag
Opening a sewn drawstring bag to show what it can hold.

 

Gameplay to Improve Instructions and Game Board:

Climatopia game board and game rules set up on desks
Set up Climatopia™ game board to play in class.
Hand holding a card with the climatpia game board in the background
Student reading a character card while playing Climatopia™.
2 students sitting beside eachother with climatopia in front of them
2 students talking to eachother. One is sitting down and the other is standing up

Final Products/Final Presentations:

Plethora of 3D game pieces that are yellow, orange, red, blue, and white
Full set of competed 3D game pieces.
2 Students standing in front of projector screen
2 female Students standing in front of projector screen
Claire Bradley and Lucy Gray standing in front of board before giving final presentation.
2 Students standing in front of projector screen
2 Students standing in front of projector screen
2 Students standing in front of projector screen
Avery Brannan and Mikayah Oxendine standing in front of board before giving final presentation.
Professor Willis unrolling the Climatopia fabric next to two students.
Professor Willis unrolling the Climatopia™ game board and bag fabric.

Fall 2020 Makers

Practice Sewing the Character Piece Bags:

woman holding sewn bag while sitting on couch
Jamie with a completed bag.
female student holding white sewn bag
Lauren smiling with the first bag that she sewed.
female student holding white sewn bag
Sarah Carrier with the completed bag!
Female student showing sewing progress on bag
Mackenzie mid stitch!

Various Game Board Designs:

Climatopia game board design with hurricane in the background
Early Climatopia™ game board design.
Climatopia Game Board Design showing different disasters
Early Climatopia™ game board design.
Climatopia Game Board Design showing different climate related disasters in the background
Early Climatopia™ game board design.
Early Climatopia design woth brown background
Early Climatopia™ game board design.

 

Testing Climatopia™ With Friends and Family:

Zoom call with 6 people at the top and climatopia board game on screen
One of the many in class tester rounds.
Zoom call with 4 different women in it
Madeline playing the game with her cousin Soph, sister Katherine, and mom.

3D Game Piece Creation:

Designs of 3d game pieces
Creation of Flashlight game marker.
3d game pieces printed out in red, green, white, and yellow on a table
The first batch of proto game pieces were printed successfully.
8 3D printers
The bottom left 3D printers are beginning to print the scientist and utilities crew game pieces.
Student holding up a white fire hydrant game piece
The first game piece was successfully printed by Karla in COVID-19 friendly fashion!