Games and playful activities have emerged as powerful tools for public engagement and education, particularly in nurturing the learning of new generations. The INAF National Working Group on Game and Creative Learning has dedicated years to developing tailored games for astrophysics education. In this presentation, we examine the research conducted on two exemplary cases: PIXEL - Picture (of) the Universe and Cosmo Hunters, both meticulously crafted board games designed to engage learners of varying ages.
PIXEL provides a dynamic platform for high school education, immersing players in the intricacies of astrophysics research by emphasizing observation and analysis of cosmic bodies at varying resolutions. Conversely, Cosmo Hunters is tailored for middle school education, serving as an interactive introduction to the diverse frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum and corresponding telescopes for astronomical observations.
Throughout this presentation, we delve into the preliminary results of our research to assess the effectiveness of these games and associated activities as educational tools. Specifically, we present the qualitative analysis of the national-scale PCTO program for PIXEL and the quantitative analysis of the OAA-OACa collaboration for Cosmo Hunters.
Following the presentation, we offer the possibility to play these games and new prototypes.
 

Brief CV of Dr. Giannandrea Inchingolo:

he is a Creative Scientist with a PhD in Physics at INAF - Arcetri Astrophysics Observatory. He spearheaded “Into the (un)known”, an immersive science art exhibition displayed at the 2020 Genoa Science Festival and the 2021 Venice Cinema Biennale. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Game Science Research Center and Lead Game Developer, contributing to the creation of INAF board games for astronomy education.