CIM211 - Example 2 - Fungal Jungle
Submission Date
26-4-2026
Resource Type
Collection (a group of items)
File Format
URL
File Size and Duration
URL link
Abstract
Our project, Into the Fungal Jungle, addresses the issue of underground fungal networks being overlooked and under-protected despite their vital role in maintaining ecosystems. Mycorrhizal fungal networks connect trees and plants, allowing them to share nutrients, water, and information while also helping store carbon in the soil. However, these systems are largely invisible to the public and are increasingly threatened by deforestation, development, and climate change.
Our group explored this issue through a systems thinking lens, focusing on how ecosystems function as interconnected systems where changes to one element can impact the entire network. The prototype is designed primarily for high school students, as they are still developing their understanding of environmental issues and engage well with interactive learning experiences.
The prototype is a 2D platformer game where the player controls a mushroom character navigating an underground fungal world while being chased by a spreading CO₂ cloud. Players connect fungal nodes throughout the level, strengthening the network, removing carbon and ultimately absorbing the pollution cloud, visually demonstrating ecosystem interdependence and the environmental importance of fungal systems.
Audience
General (G) - suitable for everyone
Language
English
Rights and Permissions
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