Who We Are
Experts in the fields of climate science and game development.
Theresa HorstmanResearch Associate
Goodlad Institute for Educational Renewal
University of Washington, Bothell
Theresa’s research interests are in learning and digital technologies. More specifically, she examines how the mechanics of game play in video games support learning and researches the design process of integrating digital technologies in informal and formal educational programs.
Sara Brostrom
Educational Content Coordinator
Hershman Fellow, Washington Dept. of Ecology
Sara helps create curriculum and content for EarthGames. Before joining the team at EarthGames, Sara was a middle school science teacher for 5 years in Baltimore and Seattle and an outdoor educator in the Olympic National Park. She is a recent graduate of the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) and she has a B.S. in Biology from Western Washington University and a Master of Teaching from the Johns Hopkins University. Sara wrote the science content for Infrared Escape, Erode Runner and A Caribou’s Tale, and Teacher’s Guides for Climate Quest and Erode Runner.
Elisa Bonnin
Graduate Student
Elisa is a graduate student in oceanography studying ocean chemistry, and a published fiction writer. She is working on Cascadia and has contributed writing and storylines to Water Ways and Save the Pikas.
Rikki Parent
Artist, Undergraduate Student
Rikki is an undergraduate student majoring in Atmospheric Sciences. She is also an illustrator in traditional and digital arts and hopes to use these skills to make environmental science fun and accessible for all ages. She created all the art for Erode Runner and A Caribou’s Tale, and some for Infrared Escape.
Judy Twedt
PhD student, Interdisciplinary Individual PhD Program
Judy has a MS in Atmospheric Science and is working on creative climate communication. She is designing “environmental infosonics,” a term she coined, which use music to represent datasets about the natural world. She co-founded the Climate Change Speaker’s Bureau to talk to labor unions about climate change. She is the winner of the Husky Green Award and College of the Environment Award for Outstanding Community Impact.
Amara Kitnikone
Undergraduate Student, Interdisciplinary Visual Arts
Amara is the lead artist for Life of Pika and contributed much of the art for Infrared Escape.
Katie Davis
Assistant Professor
The Information School
University of Washington
Katie studies the role of networked technologies in teens’ lives. She is working on projects relating to digital badges to recognize learning anywhere, cyberbulling, and identity development in digital learning spaces. She regularly shares her work with parents, teachers, business leaders, and policymakers in an effort to build connections between research and practice. She is the co-author of The App Generation: How Today’s Youth Navigate Identity, Intimacy, and Imagination in a Digital World.
Ph.D. Student
The Information School
University of Washington
Abi’s research is exploring how technology can support the metacognitive aspects of learning, particularly in the domain of scientific inquiry.
Zuoming Shi
Ph.D. Student
Computer Science and Engineering
University of Washington
Zuoming is the designer and developer on Climate Quest. He is interested in designing games that combines educational value and public engagement.
Rob Thompson
Ph.D. Student
Computer Science and Engineering
University of Washington
Rob is a graduate student in the CSE department at the University of Washington. Rob’s research focuses on problem solving, education, and games.
Rachel Lee is the artist and co-designer for AdaptNation. Whether it’s games, podcasts, or blogs/vlogs, she is interested in investigating ways in which new media can help change the paradigm of how the general public engages with scientific research.
Will Chen
M.S. Student
Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management
University of Washington
Will Chen’s research focuses on developing quantitative models for studying and improving the management and conservation of riverine ecosystems. In addition, he is a co-designer of the board game, AdaptNation.
Daniel Zhu is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington’s Electrical Engineering Department. He wants to be on the forefront of those pushing society towards a sustainable future and bring clean energy to every person on the earth.
Sally Wei
Undergraduate Student
Computer Science and Engineering
University of Washington
Sally Wei is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington’s CSE department. She would like to pursue a career in game design and make educational games that can one day benefit future generations.
Rabea Baroudi
Rabea Baroudi is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington. She is planning on pursuing a career in Human Centered Design and Engineering, primarily focusing on how technology and design can improve our public health, as well as promote sustainable development all around the world.
Kurt Blancaflor
Kurt is majoring in HCDE and Computer Engineering. He hopes to apply the user-centered design concepts learned through HCDE in order to improve games in ways that are often overlooked. He wants to be the connection between users and developers in order to make games/products that are as powerful and enjoyable an experience as possible.
Andrey Butenko
Undergraduate
Andrey is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington. He has worked as a developer on Northlands: Arctic Choices.
Undergraduate
Alexey is an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science. His main focus is on programming simulation games that incorporate climate data.
Siyu (Kat) Wang
Undergraduate Student
Computer Science and Engineering
University of Washington
Kat is an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science. She is one of the developers and designers of the Unity game Soot-Out at the 0C Corral.
Benjamin MacMillan
Undergraduate Student
University of Washington
Ben is currently an undergraduate at the University of Washington. He works as a TA for the school of Computer Science and Engineering and is the lead developer on Soot-Out at the 0C Corral.
Zane Brant is an alumnus of the University of Washington’s Informatics program. He is one of the principal designers and lead Unity developer of the “Save the Pikas” mobile game.
Ben designed Infrared Escape, and contributed art and game design for Save the Pikas and Climate Quest.
Rashmi Sharma, Rittwika Rudra, and Courtney Harris
Graduate Student Alumni
Rashmi, Rittwika, and Courtney developed EcoQuest Trivia Challenge.
Associate Professor
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
University of Washington
Dargan does research on the global circulation of the atmosphere and is especially interested in how the hydrologic cycle might change with global warming. His outreach work includes giving talks, making YouTube videos, and writing songs about our planet’s climate.
Denman Professor of Sustainable Resource Sciences
School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
University of Washington
Josh’s work focusses primarily on how human activities affect plant and animal populations and species. Much of his research addresses climate change and explores how future climate change will affect populations and species distributions.