Making Science Playful
Date: June 18, 2025 1:30-3pm
Session Leaders: Peiyuan Zhang
Format: Hybrid (In-person with online access)
Tags: #science • #communication • #game • #video art

Science communication is often done in plain text (think Nature News). But at its core, a scientific finding is just a piece of information—and information can be shared in all kinds of creative ways. What if we could make scientific discoveries playful, interactive, and truly engaging?
In this workshop, I’ll kick things off by sharing some fascinating findings from psychology and neuroscience—along with a few ideas for how they could be turned into playful, interactive experiences. Then, in small groups, we’ll brainstorm ways to reimagine scientific findings that you find inspiring. How might we turn a scientific finding into a game? Into video art? Let’s explore together.
No preparation needed in advance! I’ll provide a list of intriguing findings from psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience to choose from. But you’re also welcome to bring your own favorite finding if you have one in mind. This is a space to collaborate, co-create, and maybe even prototype something we can showcase at the end of the camp. All ideas welcome!
The link to the list of findings: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kigE_f17hlomIphtrOXtrSG4zsVmIZyO9WH8yV4OYi8/edit?usp=sharing
About the motivation: I’m a cognitive scientist (Ph.D. in neuroscience) at NYU, and this workshop is a step toward a dream: building an interactive online museum of science. Imagine a digital space full of bite-sized, playful works—each one letting visitors explore a scientific discovery by experiencing it firsthand. My hope is to bridge the gap between scientists and artists, and this is where that journey begins.