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A Serious Board Game to Analyze Socio-Ecological Dynamics towards Collaboration in Agriculture

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  • María Elena Orduña Alegría

    (Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany)

  • Niels Schütze

    (Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany)

  • Samuel C. Zipper

    (Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA)

Abstract

Climate change exacerbates water scarcity and associated conflicts over water resources. To address said conflicts and achieve sustainable use of water resources in agriculture, further development of socio-ecological adaptations are required. In this study, we evaluate the ability of MAHIZ, a serious board game, to analyze socio-hydrological dynamics related to irrigated agriculture. Gameplay involves the player’s decision-making with associated impacts on water resources and crop productivity in diverse climate and policy scenarios. We evaluated MAHIZ as (1) an innovative science communication and sustainability education approach, and (2) a data collection method to inform socio-hydrological theory and models. Analysis of 35 recorded game sessions demonstrated that MAHIZ is an effective education tool about the tragedy of commons in agrohydrology and was able to identify important decision-making processes and associations between critical social parameters (e.g., communication, trust, competence) and the evolution of collective action. MAHIZ has an open game design, so the approach can be adapted for both scientific insight and outreach.

Suggested Citation

  • María Elena Orduña Alegría & Niels Schütze & Samuel C. Zipper, 2020. "A Serious Board Game to Analyze Socio-Ecological Dynamics towards Collaboration in Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5301-:d:378577
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. De Graeuwe, Mireille & Dumont, Benjamin & Maréchal, Kevin, 2025. "SErious Game for AgroEcology (SEGAE): How much can be delivered with a 4-hour lesson?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    2. Wei Gao & Yuwei Guo & Fanying Jiang, 2021. "Playing for a Resilient Future: A Serious Game Designed to Explore and Understand the Complexity of the Interaction among Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and Urban Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Dernat, Sylvain & Grillot, Myriam & Andreotti, Federico & Martel, Gilles, 2025. "A sustainable game changer? Systematic review of serious games used for agriculture and research agenda," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    4. Sari, Rika Ratna & Tanika, Lisa & Speelman, Erika N. & Saputra, Danny Dwi & Hakim, Arief Lukman & Rozendaal, Danaë M.A. & Hairiah, Kurniatun & van Noordwijk, Meine, 2024. "Farmer Options and Risks in Complex Ecological-Social systems: The FORCES game designed for agroforestry management of upper watersheds," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).

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