Science Education? It’s Child’s Play episode artwork

EPISODE · May 8, 2026 · 43 MIN

Science Education? It’s Child’s Play

from The science intersection · host Rachel Melinek

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I speak with Phil Wiles and Matteo Menapace about how games can be used in science communication, education and public engagement.We discuss how tabletop games can help people understand complex systems  from hospitals and medical research to coding, disease spread and climate change. We also talk about why games can make abstract problems feel more tangible, how they allow people to practise decision-making in a safe space, and how they can create a sense of agency rather than despair.Matteo Menapace is best known as the co-designer of Daybreak, the critically acclaimed cooperative board game about stopping climate breakdown. He designs and delivers bespoke “serious” games, ranging from playful policy simulations for strategic planning to gamified consultation processes for stakeholder engagement.You can find out more about Daybreak here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8GH1j7-sg8A huge thank you to Phil and Matteo for joining me.If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the show grow, please leave a comment, share it with someone who might enjoy it, or consider making a donation. The donation link is in the show notes.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Phil Wiles and Matteo Menapace about how games can be used in science communication, education and public engagement. We discuss how tabletop games can help people understand complex systems from hospitals and medical research to coding, disease spread and climate change. We also talk about why games can make abstract problems feel more tangible, how they allow people to practise decision-making in a safe space, and how they can create a se...

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Science Education? It’s Child’s Play

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Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I speak with Phil Wiles and Matteo Menapace about how games can be used in science communication, education and public engagement.We discuss how tabletop games can help people understand complex systems  from...

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