Assistant Professor Concordia University Montréal, Québec, Canada
Our planet is facing serious ecological issues that require interdisciplinary solutions and the participation of the public in decision-making. Building a strong bridge between science and the public might require creative communication approaches that engage individuals in ecological learning and advocacy. Boardgames are one effective and engaging medium of knowledge that could be designed to target various topics in ecology and conservation. Here I present EcoDragons as a boardgame concept for the conservation of dragonflies in their natural aquatic habitat. The goal of the game is to increase the diversity of dragonflies in freshwater habitats and protect them against anthropogenic disturbance (e.g. drought, invasive species) using basic ecological processes and conservation approaches. Thus, the player is exposed to a variety of concepts in ecology and conservation as well as solutions to contemporary environmental issues. The concept of the game is also very adaptable to other biological systems (invertebrates or vertebrates). Boardgames are potentially a great way to educate and raise awareness of the public about planetary environmental challenges.
