"MicroMatch!": A free card game published to learn about chilean bacteria and biotechnology
The initiative is available for download online and aims to bring science closer to the community in a fun way, teaching about Chile's biological heritage and its applications.
The Millennium Nucleus for Bioproducts, Genomics, and Environmental Microbiology (BioGEM) published this Monday on its website "MicroMatch! Explore and Learn", an Chilean educational card game that combines fun and learning about the world of environmental bacteria and their biotechnological applications.
Funded by the Open Science USM program of the Technical University Federico Santa María (UTFSM), with the support of the Millennium Scientific Initiative of the National Agency for Research and Development of Chile (ANID in Spanish), this project aims to bring science closer to the community in a playful and accessible way in the areas of sustainable agriculture, environmental decontamination, and human health.
The initiative was led by UTFSM Academic and Director of the Millennium Nucleus BioGEM, Dr. Michael Seeger, and developed by researchers from the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology (LabMMBA).
"This card game is an attractive contribution from the Millennium Nucleus BioGEM and its young researchers to one of its objectives: fluent communication of science to society and the school world," said Dr. Seeger.
This is also highlighted by BioGEM postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Constanza Macaya –who participated in the project's execution–, stating that the main motivation was "to generate an open and accessible educational resource for everyone, promoting microbiological knowledge and valuing Chile's current biological heritage."
"The idea was to illustrate some of these microorganisms from different parts of the country with their respective biotechnological potential, allowing the association of environmental bacteria with their possible applications," she added.
About "MicroMatch!"
"MicroMatch!" is a card game designed for 2 to 4 players, where they must correctly match environmental bacteria with their biotechnological applications. The goal is simple: the player who makes the most correct matches wins the game.
The game is already available for free download on the BioGEM website. Once downloaded, the files can be printed to cut out the cards and start playing, allowing players to learn about the crucial role these microorganisms play and their impact on the environment. The game is only available in Spanish.
The Millennium Nucleus BioGEM, led by the Technical University Federico Santa María, together with the University of La Frontera, University of Valparaíso, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, is funded by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID).