Who: Jane McGonigal, an American game designer and author who advocates the use of mobile and digital technology to channel positive attitudes in a real-world context. McGonigal has been developing commercial games since 2006 and says her No. 1 goal is to see a game designer nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. She believes games can boost our resilience, help us experience post-traumatic growth and even give us 10 extra years of life. McGonigal is the New York Times best-selling author of Reality is Broken and has been named among the “10 Most Powerful Women to Watch” by Forbes and the “20 Most Inspiring Women in the World” by Oprah Winfrey in O Magazine. She has appeared on The Colbert Report and CNN.
What: McGonigal will speak Monday, Aug. 3 at 1:30 p.m. to 200 elite high school students from 20 nations staying on the University of Rochester’s River Campus as part of the International Baccalaureate World Student Conference Aug. 2-8. International Baccalaureate is a comprehensive school curriculum offered across the globe, with required components including community service, a 4,000-word research paper, and rigorous final exams in six different subject areas.
The conference theme is “Game Changers: Reaching Solutions Through the Instinct to Play,” exploring real-world questions such as: How can clean water reach millions through the playground fun of children? How did rugby heal one of history’s most violent social divisions? Can video games save lives?
Students hail from Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, St. Martin, Taiwan, the United States, and Venezuela.
Where: Strong National Museum of Play auditorium. The event is open to the public. Seating is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parking: Parking available to the media upon advance request. Metered parking available to the public.
To set up interviews or cover this event: Contact Jim Mandelaro at Jim.Mandelaro@Rochester.edu or (585) 276-4061.
