The Great Garbage Patch: The Bionauts’ Challenge – An Educational Escape Room on Marine Plastic Pollution and on Possible Solutions

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution is a critical environmental issue, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch symbolizing its severity. To engage the public in understanding this crisis and exploring scientific solutions, we developed "The Great Garbage Patch: The Bionauts’ Challenge", an educational escape room set in a biology lab aboard an oceanographic research vessel. Participants must solve challenges and puzzles to learn about marine pollution and the role of plastic-degrading bacteria in ocean cleanup. First presented at Maker Faire Rome 2024, the escape room attracted students, educators, and families. A tabletop version was later introduced to extend its reach at other events. Through gamified learning, participants explored the impact of plastic waste and the potential of biotechnology in mitigating pollution. This case study highlights the potential of educational escape rooms for informal science learning. While results were encouraging, they should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations such as self-selection and group-based evaluation. Still, the experience demonstrates how game-based learning can foster curiosity and deepen understanding of STEM subjects and environmental issues.