STEMcast Episode 41 | "From Controller to Contributor": How gaming is contributing to cutting-edge research with Profs. Jerome Waldispuhl and Attila Szantner

About this episode

The episode explores how video games contribute to scientific research and discovery.

What if playing a video game could help advance scientific discovery? Welcome back to STEMcast: Beyond the Lab! Today we invited Professors Attila Szantner (Department of Computer Science at McGill and CEO and co-founder of Massively Multiplayer Online Science) and Jerome Waldispuhl (Department of Computer Science at McGill University and Canada Research Chair (CIHR Tier 1) in Biomedical Citizen Science ) to explore how video games are being used to advance scientific research. From improving microbial phylogenies through Borderlands Science to uncovering the unique problem-solving strategies of expert players, we discuss the growing role of citizen science, the strengths of humans and computers in tackling complex challenges, and how millions of gamers are contributing to discoveries in biology and beyond. Join us as we examine the future of research powered by play!

People in this episode

Guests: Jerome Waldispuhl, Attila Szantner

Topics covered

• gaming
• scientific research
• citizen science
• biological discoveries
• problem-solving strategies

Keywords

• video games
• scientific discovery
• citizen science
• microbial phylogenies
• Borderlands Science
• problem-solving
• biology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: McGill, Massively Multiplayer Online Science, Department of Computer Science, Canada Research Chair (CIHR Tier 1)

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