Abstract DGP2026-8 |
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Drake’s Dice: Bringing Astrobiology to the board game evening.
How do we search for life in the Universe? What do scientists actually look for? And... can you find it?
In 1960, Frank Drake formulated the most famous equation to estimate the likelihood of intelligent life in the cosmos. The goal was to stimulate scientific dialog around the first SETI meeting and has since largely remain limited to scientific circles. How can we harness its creative power to promote Astrobiology ?
We developed Drake’s Dice: a board game that translates the randomness and uncertainty inherent in astrobiological data into gameplay. Players encounter real-life events (e.g., Gaia, Artemis) or astronomy concepts (e.g., Fermi Paradox, planetary migration) that constrain or expand the probability of life. Over 50 key concepts are explained in an illustrated booklet. Three difficulty levels reflect the evolving complexity of the scientific consensus.
Tested in public outreach settings, this physical game offers an accessible, engaging way for general audiences to explore the science, assumptions, and open questions behind the search for extraterrestrial life.