[Commlist] Utrecht Summer School 'Game Research/Ecogames' 2023

*** Summer School: Ecogames. Games and Play in Sustainability Awareness, 
Communication and Action (21st - 25th Aug. 2023) ***

** Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands **

With the impending climate crisis and its short-term repercussions 
becoming more ‘tangible’ every year, popular media and especially games 
- both digital and analogue - are increasingly drawing attention as 
powerful tools for climate education, communication and action. The 
summer course builds on and contributes to a growing body of scholarship 
that explores this phenomenon, situating it within the broader field of 
environmental humanities and ‘green media’ studies. We investigate how 
‘ecogames’ complement existing ecomedia (e.g. film, television, 
photography, performance or music) and approach the study and societal 
application of ecogames from a variety of research traditions, including 
the humanities, social sciences, sustainability studies, economics and 
creative practice research.

For that purpose, the summer school brings together leading researchers 
in the field of ecogames from the universities of Warsaw (Poland), 
Manchester (UK), Cologne (Germany), Aalborg/Copenhagen (Denmark), Oslo 
(Norway), and Utrecht (Netherlands). Each day is dedicated to a 
different theme/methodology, ranging from ecocritical game analysis (day 
1), (board) game modification for climate communication (day 2), 
metagaming (eco)practices like cosplay or in-game photography (day 3) 
and ecogame production/reception (day 4) to ecogame aesthetics (day 5), 
which situates ecogames in a broader media context by emphasizing the 
role of sound and music.

The summer school is aimed at students (from ambitious BA and MA/MSc 
students to PhD candidates) as well as members of private and public 
sector institutions (companies, NGOs, activist groups etc.) that may 
already utilize games or gamified systems for environmental 
communication, education and action, or simply aim to better understand 
how and when to use them.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until August 9th, 2023.

Subsidized housing is available at €200 for the whole week.

For more information (including a tentative program) and to apply 
online, visit 
https://utrechtsummerschool.nl/courses/humanities/ecogames-games-and-play-in-sustainability-awareness-communication-and-action 


COURSE LEADER:

Dr. Stefan Werning | (s.werning /at/ uu.nl)

CREDITS:

2,5 ECTS credits (whether this is extracurricular or can be used for 
curricular credit, e.g. as a tutorial, is determined by the 
participant’s home university; the amount of credits accepted can also 
vary per institution) + certificate of attendance (can be graded upon 
request)

COURSE FEE:

€300 | Covers administrative costs, course materials and catering (light 
lunches and hot/cold drinks as well as a welcome dinner).

LOCATION:

Utrecht University, Drift 25, 3512 BR Utrecht (room 1.02)

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