Unveiling Molecular Secrets: Multidisciplinary Team Develops a Molecule-Making Escape Room
Unveiling Molecular Secrets:
Multidisciplinary Student Teams Develop a Molecule-Making Escape Room
With seventeen eager individuals observing, five brave souls ventured inside, armed with a Human-Centered Design (HCD) mindset and an array of clues. As curious onlookers gathered, a mix of suspense and anticipation hung in the air as the team embarked on a journey of collaboration and problem-solving. It was an intense collision of intellect, as they meticulously analyzed a periodic table, comparing codes and deciphering puzzles that seemed to hold the key to their escape.
A semester of work had culminated in this experience, and the first play-test of the escape room had begun.
Class Collaborations
“Lab 217” is an escape room being hosted in SCD’s Moonlight Bay, a residency space that allows for large projects over a short timeframe, such as assembling and playtesting this experience. The escape room is a multidisciplinary, collaborative project that is designed, fabricated, and run by students in two courses. The classes partnered with James Planey and the Molecule Maker Lab Institute (MMLI) to develop a 45-minute puzzle room experience for middle and high school students to introduce them to and get them excited about molecule making. Students in THEA 591: Designing Immersive Experiences, taught by Amber Dewey Schultz, designed the theme, narrative, and multisensory environment, while students in INFO 418: Makerspace - Escape Rooms, taught by Emilie Butt and Duncan Baird, designed and fabricated the puzzle.
Designing a Game with Molecule-Making Challenges
The game takes place in the year 2323, when the players enter an abandoned lab. They learn that two teams, one composed of humans and the other of AI machines, have occupied and abandoned the lab after failing to make sufficient discoveries in molecule making. Motivated by the last active AI entity TEDD (Teamwork, Equity & Diversity Device), they must develop a new solar cell molecule before TEDD uses the last of his power and shuts down permanently.
The escape room exposes participants to the core MMLI practice of AI-facilitated innovation, and models the process of collaboration and information sharing critical to the institute’s success. In addition to the practices of MMLI, the escape room also promotes core science practices of interpreting molecular representations, leveraging failure as a catalyst for progress, and weighing multiple solutions to a problem. Participants also explore the role of AI in scientific discovery, and the potential limitations of AI and how humans and AI combined move scientific innovation forward.
Back at the playtesting, the room buzzed with the energy of collaboration, a fusion of two different classes, a masterful blend of theater and informatics. The students in the Designing Immersive Experiences course had orchestrated a thrilling tale that intertwined with the escape room's challenges. As minutes ticked by, a wave of hints, both formal and informal, ebbed and flowed, some given by observers and setup crew standing outside the room. Yet, an unexpected twist emerged as setup complications surfaced, perplexing both the students behind the scenes and the participants attempting to decode the mysteries within. Pretense melded with reality as participants navigated Act 1, encountering an unexpected barrage of sheets within the room, leading to confusion and a test of their problem-solving mettle. Meanwhile, the setup crew, seemingly enjoying the players' use of flashlights, eagerly watched the drama unfold.
But amidst the chaos, teamwork thrived, with participants pooling their expertise, wielding flashlights, and unraveling the challenges with an impressive synergy. Miraculously, in a mere 33 minutes, the puzzles succumbed to their relentless determination, leaving a breathtaking 12 minutes on the clock. As the debrief unveiled the tale of their escapade, the challenge was met with a blend of excitement and frustration from getting entangled in various puzzles throughout the room. As the group looked back on the experience, they felt the escape room encapsulated the essence of teamwork, unforeseen challenges, and the thrill of conquering the unknown. It wasn't just an escape room; it was a journey through collaboration and discovery, leaving an indelible mark on all who dared to venture within “Lab 217”.