The Environment Agency has created a set of games on Minecraft to help schoolchildren learn about environmental management.
It has based the games, named Rivercraft, on the £54.7 million flood risk management scheme for Preston and South Ribble working with digital youth engagement specialist Block Builders and using Microsoft’s Climate and Sustainability Minecraft Education website.
Three games are involved, on managing flood risk, climate change and flooding, and environment and wellbeing, all involving a virtual version of the city of Preston.
The first gives users a chance to defend the city from flooding through the construction of hard defences; the second explores how individual actions can alleviate climate change and flood risk; the third involving an ecological survey on a riverbank.
The game was launched at Archbishop Temple School in Preston.
Amazing opportunity
Andy Brown, flood risk manager for the Environment Agency, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for students and a project we are proud to be a part of.
“Not only will young people learn about a major flooding scheme in the UK, but they will also discover more about climate change, the environment, flooding and the types of roles available for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
The game has been developed as part of the agency’s Flood Digital Innovation Programme.
