MIT Graduate Program in Comparative Media Studies

Studying Media and Making Media

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Launch of science game “VANISHED!” featured in local broadcast

VANISHED

VANISHEDLocal ABC affiliate NewsChannel5 stopped by yesterday to interview The Education Arcade’s Scot Osterweil about his team’s successful launch of “VANISHED!”, an online mystery game that brings middle school science students together to work through an environmental disaster.

Conducted in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, “VANISHED!” has signed up more than 3,000 users just two days after it went live:

“No scientist got to be a scientist by memorizing flash cards,” said Scot Osterweil, one of the website’s designers at MIT.

“In the first day, we had kids posting saying ‘this is really cool, this is like being a detective,’ which is exactly what we wanted to see,” said Osterweil.

VIDEO: NewsChannel5.com—”MIT Challenges Students To Crack Code”

About Andrew Whitacre

Andrew directs the communications efforts for CMS/W and its research groups. A native of Washington, D.C., he holds a degree in communication from Wake Forest University, with a minor in humanities, as well as an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College.

His work includes drawing up and executing strategic communications plans, with projects including website design, social media management and training, press outreach, product launches, fundraising campaign support, and event promotions.