The Basin Challenge Game is an online, interactive simulation designed for one or two players to explore river basin development over 50 years. Players must make decisions based on authentic socio-economic and environmental data while navigating constraints and trade-offs. It serves as a pedagogical tool to facilitate discussions and improve decision-making around complex nexus issues.

1. The Basin Challenge
Game
thebasinchallenge.com
Dr. Nathanial Matthews

2. Overview of Basin Challenge Game
• Not a model, but a game
• Single player or two player (teams), available free
online
• Development decisions players make are based on
authentic situations and environmental and soci-economic
data.
• There are timeframe, budgetary, and climatic
constraints, and trade-offs must be decided
(economics, social, environment)

3. Overview of Basin Challenge Game
• Simulates development of a river basin over the
course of 50 years and allows players to see
impacts of decisions instantly
• Players must consider population growth,
happiness, ecosystem health, tourism, income and
water, food and energy.

6. Benefits of the Basin Challenge
Game
• A useful pedagogical tool to educate nexus
decisions and help players to visualize and
understand the complexities of river basin
development.
• Encourages discussions surrounding trade-offs
within the Nexus to improve decision-making
through learning-by-doing.
• Brings groups together and encourages reflection
about winners and losers and which voices are
heard and unheard.

7. Thank you