The University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education and its Office of the Vice President for Research are hosting the first opportunity for Virginia high school teams to participate in the UVA Bay Game on Feb. 9 in Clark Hall. Media are invited to cover the event.

The UVA Bay Game is a large-scale participatory simulation based on the Chesapeake Bay watershed and was developed by a multi-disciplinary faculty and student team from nine schools across U.Va. It combines a computer game format with demographic, economic and scientific data to create a powerful tool with real-world applications and impact. Piloted in 2009, the simulation has been played by undergraduate student teams, environmental and policy professionals, corporate leaders and now will be implemented with a large group of high school students.

Seven teams of high school students from around Virginia will gather, and players will assume the roles of farmers, land developers, watermen or policymakers. Teams from James River High School in Midlothian, Monticello High School in Albemarle County, Louisa County High School in Mineral, Hidden Pond Nature Center in Fairfax, Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School in Fishersville, Eastern View High School in Culpeper and Chesterfield High School in Chesterfield will all try their hand at watershed stewardship.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all involved,” said David Feldon, an associate professor of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at Curry. “The UVA Bay Game brings together the excitement, collaboration and engagement of a multiplayer game with the rigorous science and economics of an advanced complex systems simulation constructed by some of the best experts in the field. The students will be making real-world decisions and determining the consequences of those choices for critical issues of sustainability in their own backyards.”

This real world simulation serves as a tool for exploring and testing policy choices, and a tool for evaluating new products and services. The event is not open to the public.