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Talent blossoms among weed computer game

August 01, 2005

thumb_Kentucky School Patersons Curse058.JPGAn inter-active computer game developed as an initiative to raise the awareness of weed management, particularly amongst school students, will be launched at The University of New England on Wednesday, August 17.
The game requires the player to make decisions regarding the best way of eliminating weeds. Players then observe the results of their decisions. Humorous and unexpected events occur keeping the game interesting.
The game was designed by Miss Susanna Greig, Educational Officer for the CRC for Australian Weed Management, who said the game was the first of its kind in Australia.
“The game stimulates real life, with the player using their bank account to deal with the weed problems on the farm,” Susanna said.
“Players are exposed to problems such as build-up of herbicide resistance, the costs and time involved in managing weeds and other problems that are associated with managing a farm.”
To ensure the game was pitched at the right level the Susanna tested it on a number of school student groups, all of whom enjoyed playing the game and offered extremely positive feedback.
Weeds are one of the most serious threats facing Australia’s primary producers and cost the agricultural sector an estimated $4 billion a year.

Established in 2001, the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management is working to reduce the risks posed by current and new weed incursions through programs in research, education and information across Australia.
Last year, was the first year Susanna ran the “Lord of the Weeds” competition in which teachers and pupils from schools nationwide were encouraged to devise a strategy to eliminate weeds from a weedy area near their school. Due to the high quality and quantity of reports submitted the competition is running again this year. Approximately 100 school groups have entered the competition each year. The total prize money offered to the schools with the winning reports is $3500. The reports are currently being marked and the winning reports will be displayed on the CRC’s website shortly.
The Weed Wipeout computer game can be accessed and played by going to the CRC’s website: www.weeds.crc.org.au and following the links to “For schools” and then to “Weed Wipeout”.
The computer game will be launched at the foyer of the Information and Technology Building at UNE on Wednesday, August the 17th, at 10am. After an official launch we will watch school student groups play the game.
For more information phone Ms Susanna Greig on 6773 2809 or
Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779.

Posted by Lydia Roberts at August 1, 2005 09:58 AM