Astera - Gamifying the Extra-Galactic Universe for educational fun
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Galaxies are truly the most astounding places in the universe. Colossal systems of stars (of which our sun is just one among trillions), these truly colossal objects have been rightly dubbed `island universes' in their own right. If you were to do the impossible and 'zoom out' our view of the universe to perceive it on the largest scales, you would see billions of galaxies scattered like glittering jewels on a pall of dark velvet. You would see the vast diversity in galaxy structure ('morphologies') with colossal, ancient elliptical galaxies and intricate, tightly wound spiral galaxies. This 'God's eye view' of the universe has existed only in the minds of Astronomers, until now. We call this project 'Astera'. Developed in-house at the University of Southampton, Astera generates a dazzlingly beautiful, but also scientifically accurate, interactive view of the universe on unimaginably large scales. Developed using the popular game engine Unreal Engine, Astera allows the user to voyage through the cosmos with dynamic and immersive first-person control. In this project, we will take Astera to the next level, by leveraging cutting-edge, STFC-funded research into computer modelling of galaxy evolution, to develop our project into an exciting and engaging video game. The player will have the ability to not only observe, but also influence, the evolution of galaxies themselves, in a fun and gamified way that will make players always want to come back for more. In this project, we will develop a prototype version of this game, which we will use to pitch for additional investment or partnership with an existing game studio. This project will also be shared with a group of preliminary testers, to secure feedback that is customer driven. Finally, we will further develop our contacts within the industry, to pave the way for a full commercial release of Astera.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Francesco Shankar (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
| Description | Astera was initially conceived as an immersive, stunning, interactive fly through the deep extragalactic universe. We saw the potential to create impact with Astera not only as a public engagement tool but also through its commercialisation potential as a standalone video game. The funding has taken Astera development to its current iteration - a commercially viable game version with enhanced game features and design and preliminary data on market validation, along with feedback from users of different ages and backgrounds. Astera has seen much public appeal in the commercial sphere from both individuals and industry experts. We have demonstrated the game in many settings: in lectures, at events such as SOTSEF (for two years running), in private audiences and in focus groups consisting of a diverse range of participants. During Science and Engineering Festivals and multiple visits to different schools, the responses from the hundreds of users who engaged with our demonstration version of Astera peaked around "I liked it/I loved it". The vast majority highlighted: i) the strong interest in the game content; ii) the excitement about the challenges; iii) the willingness to share it with others; iv) the new knowledge acquired; v) the renewed interest in STEM subjects/astronomy. Beyond the public engagement activities, we have seen commercial interest from the Observatory of Rome, who have expressed a desire to use Astera as an exhibit in an educational setting. We see the size of the market for our product to be niche but fairly large, embracing all the 13-17 age range and beyond. Many people, especially young people, have expressed a desire to play games about cosmology but the current games market for these concepts are either set in fictional universes (No Man's Sky, Starfield, etc.) or the barrier for entry is quite high (e.g. Universe Sandbox). We therefore believe there is a unique selling point with Astera. Together with Nucleolus and supported in-house by the Southampton Research and Innovation Service Technology Transfer Officer and a dedicated Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Fellow, we have designed a vibrant route to market which we sketch in Table 1, for which we are now seeking external funding to realise in full. Some initial funding came in from HEIF and also in-kind via Nucleolus. We aim with Astera to promote STEM subjects to the younger generations, whilst contributing to improving in all players their attitudes, interest, and behaviours toward astrophysics and science as a whole, aligning with our overarching scientific mission. We believe that educational and strategy games like ours possess the potential to inspire young minds to pursue scientific studies, particularly among those who may not have otherwise considered it. Consequently, we recognize our responsibility to offer users a faithful representation of the scientific journey, illustrating the possibilities of further study while also showcasing the game as a product of academic innovation within a university setting. As of now, we have a created demo version of the latest development of Astera that have been played locally at the University of Southampton, in schools, exhibits, and during meetings with potential stakeholders. |
| Exploitation Route | 1) We aim to create a professional brand identity for Astera highlighting its unique selling points, such as its focus on galaxy growth, energetic jets, and gravitational waves from supermassive black hole mergers. The brand will include a professional game website on Squarespace, accompanied by a visually appealing logo for use across all customer touch points. 2) We aim to install exhibits at another science centre as we did at the Winchester Science Centre. 3) We aim to create a professional YouTube channel inclusive of many videos on the use of Astera, whilst seeking the support of cost-effective game influencers and/or indie game marketing agencies (e.g., Campaign Cooperative). 4) We aim to hire FutureWorlds, the startup accelerator at the University of Southampton, to provide the core team with one-to-one mentoring and support, coaching for the production of compelling promotional videos, marketing support, including exposure at global gaming events along with networking, pitching and technology showcase events. 5) We also aim to acquire from SetSquared access to an annual business review panel, with up to 12 hours one-to-one coaching. Through SetSquared the core team will take part in the Entrepreneurs workout, and the Catalyst Programme, which is a fully funded 6-month programme inclusive of mentoring and workshops. 6) We aim to produce a video for planetariums with many extracts from Astera. The film will be shared with museums and planetariums around the world, providing a new, exciting and far-reaching opportunity to showcase the Astera game experience. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Electronics Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Transport |
| Description | Astera has inspired a new collaboration among astrophysicists, game developers, historians, and artists, that triggered several submissions for multiple grants, in particular one of the value of ~£1M to UKRI. The proposed project will comprise three core activities: 1) tailored exhibit installations; 2) interactive educational games exploring the transformation in representations of the modern scientific universe; 3) original transdisciplinary research into the content and context of representations of the scientific cosmos. The activities described in WP1-3 will shape a new integrated research practice embedding astronomy, history, and art. The core team will establish a Transdisciplinary Research Hub at the University of Southampton to create a space for regular dedicated meetings and workshops. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Transport |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account round 2 grants |
| Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | HEIF Funding |
| Amount | £6,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 06/2024 |
| Description | SEDF Funding |
| Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with the Winchester Science Centre |
| Organisation | Winchester Science Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Since the Astera project begun, I continued to hold talks within their 168-seater Planetarium at the Winchester Science Centre supported by local academics and/or industry partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Astera exhibit continues to feature in the Winchester Science Centre Explorer: Space zone. The interactive nature of the exhibit allows children to be 'hands on' and learn more about space, provoking critical thinking and scientific enquiry skills. During the current financial year, the WSC are expecting to have had over 160,000 visitors to the science centre who all would have had the opportunity to use the exhibit to learn more about space. There will be future opportunities to continue this as part of their newly developed Science Explained events. |
| Impact | Via the WSC we are reaching out to an incredible amount of engaged people throughout the country. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Euclid associate member |
| Organisation | UK Space Agency |
| Department | Euclid Consortium |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | My Euclid research is directed towards the creation and refining of the Euclid AGN-galaxy mocks mostly (but not uniquely) within WP9. I led the WP9-Tiger Team AGN-Morphology. After that, I decided to step down and I am now co-leading the WP9-Tiger Team Mocks and Randoms. The aim of this group is to provide the necessary predictions and theoretical support to various Key Projects within WP9. I am contributing to and attending the meetings for several other relevant Tiger Team in WP9, including Distribution Functions and AGN Mocks and Randoms. Together with PhD students and ECRs in my group, all Euclid members, we have contributed to the project focused on predicting the fraction of passive galaxies. With one of my PhD students (Euclid member) we have developed a framework to predict the SMBH scaling relations making use of progenitor tracks combined with Eddington ratio distributions derived from X-rays. We have presented this work in one TG telecon and some of our preliminary work has also been successfully adopted in one of his AGN mocks. Some initial testing has also been carried out on the AGN mock MAMBO. We are planning to propose to adapt this technique to the flagship. Euclid:UK Coordination Group member: I continue playing an active role in the UK-Euclid coordination group, my main role being in the coordination of UK-based EC members who are applying for grants, in particular the STFC Small and Large Awards. Early Career Committee member: I co-led the coordination of the Early Career Researcher Workshop in Rome, for which I prepared and delivered a presentation on the next steps in career for PhD students and postdocs who are applying for jobs. I contributed to several Q1 papers as style expert or lead author. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners are also member of Euclid consortium and bring expertise and person power to the collaboration. |
| Impact | Publications, data, and public releases |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Rubin-LSST Affiliate PI |
| Organisation | The LSST Collaboration |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Member of the AGN and galaxy working groups, presented my work at meetings and contribute to the development of supermassive black hole accretion tracks that fed into the AGILE galaxy-AGN mock (PI: Viitanen, Bongiorno). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contribution to knowledge and papers. |
| Impact | AGILE mock https://www.oa-roma.inaf.it/lsst-agn/ |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | School Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The Astera team is regularly visiting schools in the whole area and more activities have been requested by different schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Science Festival Engineering and Physical Sciences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We have created an exhibit of Astera to be experienced hands on by many people who attended the Science Festival at the University of Southampton. Many people viewed the exhibit, many of them engaged with it and left positive feedback. More data can be shared upon request. We are using these data to gauge our business case towards the gamification of Astera. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023,2024 |
| URL | https://www.sotsef.co.uk/ |
| Description | Several workshop activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We have attended a variety of trade shows in 2024 which have allowed our team to gauge market potential both domestically and internationally. More specifically, we visited the London "Turning Science into Business Workshop", the "Sign & Digital Trade Show" in Birmingham, the "London Tech Show", the "Cloud Expo Europe", the 12th Games and Learning Alliance Conference (GALA) in Dublin, the "Big CIO Show" in Bangalore, the "Comic-Con London", and the "Develop in Brighton" Conference. We connected with several tech companies and tech-related industries, including Intel, Hewlett- Packard, Pepsico, HSBC, Lenovo and WhatFix. Initial discussions with HP have led to a potential interest in licensing Astera on their machines. We also met with cloud-based giants Valve (owners of Steam), with whom we exchanged business details |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Winchester Science Centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Astera has a built-in exhibit in the Winchester Science Centre Explorer Space zone. So far, more than 160,000 visitors have had the chance to use the exhibit and learn more about space. The interactive nature of the exhibit allows children to be 'hands on' and learn more about space, provoking critical thinking and scientific enquiry skills. In addition, public talks about the Universe and Astera have continued to hold talks within the 168-seater Planetarium at the Winchester Science Centre supported by local academics and/or industry partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/exploring/explorer-space |