Fragile Earth Studios is a project sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that leverages data visualizations, simulations, and games to better understand real-world challenges.

1. Why Games? Earth’s Shadows
“Sit still and listen” is
an outdated teaching
ios
In this multi-player
style. We need to
A’s St ud
provide content setting, continents are
delivery methods that
OA h
projected as shadows
can better serve
mes
N art
students in the on the walls blending
ga
g as
digital age. Games data, science, and art.
have the power to gin
nga
E se
provide environments
ile
that encourage
ge sa
autonomous learning len
ag
exploration. ch al
rld
Community and Communication
Fr e ca
nm
aker eal
-wo
NOAA’s Fragile Earth Studios has investigated the use If w
of game and virtual world technologies in learning
communities with widely dispersed audiences and
found that games and simulations provide powerful
tools for educators to teach and share knowledge
effectively.
Evaluation
Both students and teachers reported that NOAA’s
games were: Educational while focused on specific
concepts; interesting and engaging while effective
for learning concepts; and successful in helping stu-
dents to feel that their actions made a difference.
ty
tivi
lc rea
ba
f glo
ge o
Games Make People Care newa
ra
People play games not just for fun, but also for the foste
n
satisfaction of solving complex problems requiring 303.497.6831
We ca
reasoning and perseverance. If we made solving
real-world challenges as engaging as video games, fragileearthstudios@noaa.gov
we could harness a new age of global creativity.
fragileearthstudios.com

2. Who we are Portfolio products
ROV Exploration
Navigate though a
detailed underwater
ecosystem using a
remotely operated
vehicle.
Online Conferences
TerraViz NEIS
Fragile Earth Studios ‘Science came to play’
provides development at the NOAA Games and Instantly access data
A four dimensional from the distant past
Who We Are What We Offer services for a variety of Simulation Summit held high performance
projects both internal and on January 11-12, 2011. to the distant future
visualization located anywhere on
Fragile Earth Studios is We seek out beneficial external to NOAA. environment for
a project sponsored by partnerships providing Participants attended Earth from a single
NOAA’s information. application.
the National Oceanic consulting on game, We provide curricula and from 10 federal and
and Atmospheric visualization, and resources for students state agencies and
Administration (NOAA) simulation interested in a better universities.
that leverages data development. understanding of the
visualizations, power of games. Topics included best
simulations, and games We provide unique practices and reviewing
to better understand access to science fragileearthstudios.com evaluation methods for
real-world challenges. content and scientists. gaming and simulation.
Experience Solutions
Started in 2005, Fragile Earth Studios’
Fragile Earth Studios designers, scientists,
represents one of the and educational
first concerted efforts experts provide ReGenesis Virtual Hawaii
within government to unique access and Travel through time Voyage across the
develop material for experience to seeing the result of open ocean in an
games, simulations, design interactive player choice on the adventure to learn
and virtual worlds. media solutions. Earth’s climate. about Polynesian
culture and celestial
navigation.