Gamification refers to the practice of incorporating game design elements and principles into non-game environments, like education. This is the case of the SUPERVAL game, developed by a team from the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), coordinators of the European research project SUPERVAL. They present an educational card game to help secondary school students understand the carbon and nitrogen cycles in an interactive way. Players learn how these cycles function, how human activities can disrupt them, and how ecosystems can be restored.
“Communicating cycles like carbon and nitrogen is not straightforward—they are complex, invisible processes. The card game helps us translate those abstract concepts into actions that people can see, manipulate and understand. It’s a way to bring rigorous science closer to society,” said Marta Llorens Fons, ICIQ’s Scientific Communication Officer and co-creator of the game.
The SUPERVAL game was first presented during the European Researchers’ Night 2025 in Tarragona, an event that drew nearly 5,000 visitors. Over two days, children and adults continuously filled the play tables, confirming that the activity can engage audiences of all ages.
From Researchers’ Night to Schools
While the game was launched at the European Researchers’ Night, its main purpose is as an educational outreach activity for schools. Sessions, designed for students aged 14–16, include a short introduction to the carbon and nitrogen cycles, active card gameplay to assimilate the concepts, a video presenting SUPERVAL’s research actions and a final activity connecting theory to everyday products (such as those derived from ammonia or formate). Each interested school receives a kit with material which remains there for long-term use.
“Schools are at the heart of this initiative. But our commitment goes beyond the classroom: through activities like the European Researchers’ Night and other similar upcoming events, we aim to reach both younger generations and the wider public. Outreach is essential if we want people to understand not only what SUPERVAL researches, but also why it matters,” said Arnau Jordà Queral, ICIQ’s Project Communication Officer and SUPERVAL’s card game co-creator.
SUPERVAL will be contacting schools in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany to distribute the card game activity and teaching materials. At the same time, schools interested in taking part are welcome to reach out to the SUPERVAL team to request participation.
How the game works
The card deck represents the elements, processes, and impacts of the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Players work to build balanced cycles while facing “challenge cards” that introduce climate change consequences or human activities such as acid rain, intensive industry, or ozone layer depletion. To win, one player must complete all the processes of one cycle and apply strategies that restore ecological balance, such as playing a green industry card or promoting reforestation, mirroring real environmental challenges. The competitivity of the game naturally increases players’ motivation and fosters deeper engagement.
The concept of the game is based on research from SUPERVAL’s research objectives, which aims at developing sustainable technologies to transform nitrogen- and carbon-based pollutants into valuable products, contributing to climate change mitigation.
Funded by the European Union (101162513-ERN-ApuliaMED).
Funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101115456.
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