Learning Through Play: RPI Game on Freshwater Science Installed at ECHO Leahy Center
Learning Through Play: RPI Game on Freshwater Science Installed at ECHO Leahy Center
Learning Through Play: RPI Game on Freshwater Science Installed at ECHO Leahy Center
Joanie Quinones
July, 30, 2025
Summary
World of Plankton is an interactive educational game developed by RPI faculty and students, now permanently installed at the ECHO Leahy Center’s Into the Lake exhibit. Designed by Professor Kathleen Ruiz and the Eco Resilience Global Games Research Group, the game allows players to explore freshwater ecosystems via a digital touch table. Players interact with plankton, fish, and environmental challenges like algal blooms. Informed by the Jefferson Project and field studies, the game blends science, art, and technology. It exemplifies RPI’s interdisciplinary approach to environmental education, aiming to raise awareness of aquatic ecosystems and the impact of environmental change.
Reference
Quinones, J. (2025, July 30). Learning through play: RPI game on freshwater science installed at ECHO Leahy Center. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute News. https://news.rpi.edu/2025/07/30/learning-through-play-rpi-game-freshwater-science-installed-echo-leahy-center