Featured Post from University of Delaware

Video games tackle climate change

Apr 15, 2024

2 min

A.R. Siders


The University of Delaware recently hosted a Climate Change Video Game Jam for students that paired the ingenuity of designing a video game with activism and the use of research to address one of the world's biggest problems.


The national video game design competition was the brainchild of A.R. Siders, director of the UD's Mangone Climate Change Science and Policy Hub and core faculty in the Disaster Research Center.


Participants representing five universities — UD, the University of California - Irvine, Ohio University, the University of Southern California and Irvine Valley College — competed in the event at UD's Esports Arena.


Eight games were submitted and ran the gamut in their design, gameplay and visual effects. They ranged from a game focused on sustainable fishing, an ocean pollution clean-up, pirates cleaning oil spills, a mermaid helping her sea creature friends and a professor collecting magical stones to address storms and sea level rise.


Four games included original artwork — both hand-drawn pixel art and 3-D models — and original sound effects and music. One had voice acting by the lead developer because the team “wanted to center her voice” in the game both figuratively and literally. The students behind the latter walked away victorious.


As a self-proclaimed “climate geek” and long-time gamer, the idea for such an event was a natural way for Siders to marry two of her passions while actively engaging UD’s student body in addressing environmental issues.



“The Jam is a great opportunity to bring people together from totally different perspectives who are all excited about the connections across these themes,” Siders said. “Facts and charts don’t move people. They don’t inspire action or instigate change, but video games can change how people think about climate change.”


Siders also hopes that the game jam helps put UD on the map as a place that does cross-disciplinary climate work.


“We have excellent expertise in game design, climatology, engineering, ocean science, and environmental humanities,” Siders said. “But our real strength is our ability to put those together creatively.”


Members of the media who would like to interview Siders about the Climate Change Video Game Jam or other related topics can visit her profile and click "connect" or send an email to mediarelations@udel.edu.

Connect with:
A.R. Siders

A.R. Siders

Director, Climate Change Science & Policy Hub | Core Faculty, Disaster Research Center | Associate Professor, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration & Department of Geography & Spatial Sciences

Prof. Siders' research focuses on climate change adaptation policies with an emphasis on relocation and fairness in adaptation.

Climate ChangeManaged RetreatClimate & Disaster StudyEnvironmental Video GamesClimate Change Adaptation Policies

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

1 min

Pandemic deepened health gaps for people with disabilities, study finds

A new peer-reviewed study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals that U.S. adults with disabilities experienced significant declines in preventive cardiovascular screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic — and continued to face cost-related barriers to care, even after accounting for economic disruptions. Using nationally representative data from more than 150,000 adults between 2019 and 2023, the study highlights how routine care like blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings dropped most sharply for those with cognitive, physical, or multiple disabilities. Adults with disabilities were also more likely to report delaying or missing care due to cost. These findings underscore persistent health inequities and the urgent need for inclusive public health strategies, especially for populations already at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. Why it matters: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. Adults with disabilities face higher risks and more barriers to care — making consistent preventive screenings essential. This study offers the first detailed, post-pandemic national look at how different disability groups were affected, with implications for future policy and healthcare reform. For more information on the study and to speak to experts, contact mediarelations@udel.edu. 

1 min

Food is medicine, and this professor has the research to prove it

For more than 20 years, Dr. Allison Karpyn has worked to understand and address food insecurity in America and beyond — studying how communities access healthy food, how policy shapes those opportunities and how local partnerships can make meaningful change. A professor in the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development and co-director of its Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, Karpyn has published extensively on topics including food deserts, healthy corner store initiatives, school nutrition programs and strategies to bring farmer’s markets to underserved areas. Her work, which blends rigorous research with community-based implementation, has appeared in leading journals such as Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Health Affairs. Karpyn has also worked directly with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and retailers to pilot and evaluate programs designed to increase access to high-quality food in low-income neighborhoods. Her focus is on actionable, data-informed solutions to persistent challenges — from childhood hunger to structural barriers in the food supply system. Now, Karpyn’s expertise is being tapped as part of Delaware’s new Food is Medicine Committee, a statewide initiative under the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy. The committee seeks to connect nutrition and health care to improve outcomes, lower costs and strengthen local food systems — goals that align closely with Karpyn’s career-spanning mission. For journalists exploring food policy, hunger, public health and the future of food access, Karpyn is a key source of insight, research and real-world perspective. She can be contacted by clicking her profile. 

2 min

Mental health risks spike for young LGBTQ+ men of color, new study shows

As Pride Month shines a spotlight on the progress and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities, it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges — especially the toll that stigma continues to take on mental health. A new in Developmental Psychology study from the University of Delaware’s Eric Layland, assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development, reveals just how urgent the need for tailored mental health support is — particularly for Black, Latinx and Afro-Latinx gay, bisexual and other sexual minority young men. Published during a time when national attention turns toward LGBTQ+ visibility, the study tracks the mental health trajectories of over 400 cisgender men between the ages of 18 and 29, focusing on how experiences of racism, heterosexism, or both — what Layland terms compound stigma — influence patterns of depression and anxiety. The results are stark: participants who experienced frequent racism and heterosexism across relationships and settings showed the earliest and most severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, with mental health challenges peaking during late adolescence and early adulthood. While symptoms tended to decline by age 24, these years — critical for education, identity formation and economic independence — were marked by emotional strain. "This study emphasizes how multiple sources of discrimination converge to impact the mental health of sexual minority men of color," Layland said. The research calls for early, culturally responsive mental health interventions that help young sexual minority men of color cope with stigma and build resilience. Layland’s team points to interventions that not only teach coping skills but also foster connection, celebrate cultural identity and create peer networks for support. Layland, who specializes in LGBTQ+ development and affirmative interventions, underscores the importance of systemic change as well.  “We need clinical and community resources that are adapted to address the intersecting discrimination experienced by sexual minority men of color, especially in their late teens in early twenties,” said Layland. Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Mental Health and UD, this study arrives at a crucial time for researchers, educators and community organizations working to create more inclusive and supportive environments. For journalists covering Pride, mental health, or intersectional equity, Layland’s work offers a powerful, data-driven look at what young LGBTQ+ people of color are facing — and how communities can act to change that story.  Journalists can reach Layland by clicking on his profile. 

View all posts
Powered by