Serious Game System – SELECT ECOTECH

The document details the development of SELECT ECOTECH, a serious game system (SGS) designed as a learning platform for stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). The game aims to foster systemic awareness and adaptive capacity when selecting eco-technologies to reduce nutrient and carbon emissions while maximizing co-benefits. Co-designed with stakeholders from three case study catchments—Fyrisån (Sweden), Vantaanjoki (Finland), and Slupia (Poland)—the game uses a board game format to simulate 'wicked' situations, including system shocks and policy changes. The report outlines a three-phase participatory design process, the game's rules regarding baseline emissions and resource management, and the specific eco-technologies and developments integrated into the system. The findings suggest that the iterative, playful nature of the SGS allows stakeholders to cross knowledge boundaries and experiment with innovative technology constellations beyond technocratic solutions.

• SELECT ECOTECH was developed through a participatory co-design process involving stakeholders from three specific river catchments: Fyrisån in Sweden, Vantaanjoki in Finland, and Slupia in Poland.
• The serious game system is designed to help users navigate 'wicked' situations—characterized by high uncertainty, complexity, and controversy—by providing a safe space to explore the systemic impact of different eco-technology constellations.
• The game's primary objectives for players are to reduce emissions from land use systems (urban, forestry, and agriculture), increase system productivity, and enhance adaptive capacity.
• The game mechanics incorporate dynamic elements such as 'shock' cards and policy changes to simulate real-world uncertainties and the impact of the policy environment on eco-technology implementation.
• The co-development process revealed that the learning and knowledge co-production began at the start of the design phase and did not require a fully functional game to be effective.

APA

Do, T., Powell, N., & Bachelder, S. (2020). Serious Game System – SELECT ECOTECH. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/select-eco-tech.pdf

Chicago

Do, Thao, Neil Powell, and Steven Bachelder. Serious Game System – SELECT ECOTECH. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/select-eco-tech.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Do |first1=Thao |last2=Powell |first2=Neil |last3=Bachelder |first3=Steven |title=Serious Game System – SELECT ECOTECH |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=14 February 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/select-eco-tech.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{do2020serious, author = {Do, Thao and Powell, Neil and Bachelder, Steven}, title = {{Serious Game System – SELECT ECOTECH}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = feb, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/select-eco-tech.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }