Somerset College

Computer gaming students at Somerset College produced a sustainable computer game that gets gaming addicts looking at waste, water and recycling issues as part of World Environment Week.

Students studying Foundation Degrees in Enterprise in Computer Games Technology and Multimedia with Internet Technologies created the E – Stomp computer game to help school children find out how to lower their carbon footprint.

The students computerised a game developed by and used in the Genesis Centre with school children. To play it, teams answer questions on sustainability, waste and Genesis so that they can move around the board, reducing their carbon footprint. The team with the most points and the lowest carbon footprint at the end wins.

Yvonne Mackeson, Somerset College’s Sustainable Education Development Officer, said: ‘The game is great, and now it’s ready for the next generation of gamers. It teaches children all about sustainability, reducing waste and increasing recycling. We know we have to reduce our carbon footprint, and E-Stomp shows children how to achieve that in a fun and informative way.

‘I really needed a game that I could take out to the schools, E-Stomp allows me to deliver it on a computer, virtually, through mobile technologies or on the screen in the lecture theatre at Genesis.’

During World Environment Week this month, students from across Somerset presented lots of ways to engage with local people on waste during the annual Genesis Young Environmentalist competition.

The event, organised by Somerset College and sponsored by Viridor, saw students present their ideas to a panel of judges. The gaming students from Somerset College won the Higher Education Award. Millfield School won the overall award with their film featuring a recycling rabbit. Castle School won the Genesis Development Award and a cheque for £250 to help towards developing their sustainability strategy.

Simon Catford, Director of Human Resources at Viridor, said: ‘I am very pleased with what the students have presented today, they have shown lots of imagination and enthusiasm proving they have great passion for waste minimalisation and the environment.’

This was the fourth annual Genesis Young Environmentalist of the Year competition, and the first year of sponsorship by Viridor. More than 300 students took part in the ‘Think: Our Waste – Our Responsibility’ competition.

Genesis itself plays an important role in the community by promoting sustainable construction. Sustainable courses are run at the centre that promotes environmentally friendly construction techniques and sustainability.

Packages are delivered for schools across Somerset to promote sustainability; courses and advice are provided for individuals, builders, building companies, councillors, politicians, designers and other organisations; Genesis also provides an inspiring conference and meeting centre for local organisations.

For further information on the Genesis Centre click here, or contact (01823) 366 528.

Somerset College deliver university courses through a partnership with the University of Plymouth.