Save your Stream!

Functionality & Mechanism

This educational gaming app from the Natural History Museum of Utah and Thought Den challenges players to address waterway pollution through a fast-paced sorting mechanism. The interface requires users to drag various types of trash into correct receptacles before a timer expires, simulating a storm. Across five levels of increasing difficulty, the game integrates facts about environmental science, linking gameplay actions to real-world ecological consequences like oxygen depletion in streams from organic waste.

Development & Context

• The app originated as a popular in-museum digital interactive created for the Natural History Museum of Utah's "Nature All Around Us" exhibition.
• Developed in a transatlantic partnership between the museum and UK-based firm Thought Den, the game was adapted for mobile to reach a broader audience.
• The news coverage notes the game's purpose is to raise awareness about how everyday waste pollutes local streams and rivers through storm drains.
• Game content was validated by subject matter experts and tested with museum visitors to balance scientific accuracy with accessible imagery.

Intended Use & Scope

Designed for a general audience of all ages, this app serves as an educational tool to promote environmental awareness. Its primary function is to communicate basic environmental science concepts about waterway pollution in an engaging, interactive format. The content, as described in news coverage, aims to inspire responsible waste management practices in local communities.