Games and Gaming Lab (GGLab/UofGGamesLab) - Global Challenges GAming INnovation (GAIN) Internship
Published: 4 October 2024
This internship will involve the opportunity to co-develop and playtest a research-led game around such Global Challenge areas as impacts of Emerging Technologies, Heritage preservation strategies, or Environmental Resilience.
Games and Gaming Lab (GGLab/UofGGamesLab) - Global Challenges GAming INnovation (GAIN) Internship
Apply for this SGSAH-funded internship with Games and Gaming Lab, up to 12 weeks FTE, between January & October 2025.
The project is titled Global Challenges GAming INnovation (GAIN) Internship and will involve the opportunity to co-develop and playtest a research-led game around such Global Challenge areas as impacts of Emerging Technologies, Heritage preservation strategies, or Environmental Resilience.
Deadline for Applications is 15th November 2024.
Location
This internship can be tailored to be in-person, remote or hybrid, depending both on the researcher and the work agreed on. In-person space will be provided by UofGGamesLab at the University of Glasgow
Project
Our ‘Gaming’ work ranges from building and delivering tabletop crisis simulations or board games with policymakers, in such areas as flood resilience or NGO crisis planning, to co-creating educational video games with heritage sites.
Games and Gaming Lab (GGLab/UofGGamesLab), based in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Glasgow, hosts cutting edge, award-winning cross-disciplinary projects into gaming Global Challenges (whether physical or digital - board, card, video/mobile gaming). We have over 300 members, in Subjects from Astrophysics to Veterinary Medicine, and external partners in public, private and non-profit organisations.
This Internship will include the opportunity, both individually and in teams, to co-develop and playtest a research-led game around such Global Challenge areas as impacts of Emerging Technologies, Heritage preservation strategies, or Environmental Resilience.
The Intern will be able to undertake research into one of these areas, organise one or more innovation events, conduct game testing evaluations, and play a significant role in knowledge exchange and public engagement activities.
We will also support the Intern both in skills development and in developing their own gaming research project
Outputs
We are flexible in determining the precise scope of outputs and tailoring these to successful candidate strengths.
Here is just one example of potential types of outputs (it could be a combination of some of these, depending on scope):
- Co-design or further development of a physical (board/card) prototype game.
- Running playtesting for 1 or more prototype game(s).
- Co-designing and running a gaming innovation event.
- Evaluation – writing 1 or more report(s) on the above work.
- Researcher personal project – conceptual work or prototype on the researcher’s own initiative, supported by the Gaming Lab.
• Co-designing one or more research-led prototype game(s) or contributing to further development of one or more existing games (whether physical or digital) – such as through development and testing of rulesets/game materials, theoretical and applied research (archival, online searches, and/or experiments into emerging technologies such as generative AI or Augmented Reality), engaging in brainstorming sessions with Lab Co-directors and team members.
• Running/supporting one or more prototype game(s) playtests (existing or newly created ones) – running playtests, responding to queries, checking technology is functioning, supervising players, setting up spaces, disseminating information.
• Co-designing and running/supporting a gaming innovation event/workshop – event design, hosting, and coordination, including internal and external liaison over such aspects as invitations, hosting, and publicity.
• Conducting evaluations – writing one or more reports, gathering data from playtesting/experiments, engaging in observations.
• Researcher personal project – the intern conducting work on their own personal gaming-related project, supported by the Lab, whether this would reach conceptual or prototyping stage.
Timescale
Application Deadline: 15th November 2024
Start date (or must start by): Flexible
End date (or must end by): Flexible
Project can be worked full time, part time or flexibly in blocks
Benefits to the Researcher
Alongside applied research and time management skills, this project will be beneficial to the intern in:
• increasing their knowledge base and practical experience of creating and adapting research-led games
• networking opportunities with a range of public, private and charitable organisations
• better understanding and applying Arts and Humanities research skills in knowledge exchange and public engagement
• learning about and contributing to the latest techniques in building games and simulations for innovative teaching, research and engagement
• developing cross-disciplinary skills and experience
• team-working, improving skills in collaboration and communication
Key Relationships
The researcher will have the potential to work with partners from public, private and not-for-profit organisations and groups in the UK and internationally, depending on the mutually agreed areas of work. For example, our existing collaborators range from St Giles’ Cathedral to Space Engineering companies).
Potential partners could also include HE Subject areas across Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and/or Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences.
However, this is indicative of the potential range of opportunities – we are not expecting the intern to work across all of them and would tailor engagement to the project and to appropriate development opportunities.
Person Specification
A1 – Knowledge Base |
C1 – Professional Conduct |
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Subject Knowledge |
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Health and Safety |
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Research methods – theoretical knowledge |
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Ethics, principles and sustainability |
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Research methods – Practical application |
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Legal requirements |
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Information Seeking |
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IPR and copyright |
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Information literacy and management |
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Respect and confidentiality |
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Languages |
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Attribution and co-authorship |
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Academic literacy and numeracy |
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Appropriate practice |
A2 – Cognitive abilities |
C2 – Research management |
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Analysing |
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Research Strategy |
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Synthesising |
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Project planning and delivery |
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Critical thinking |
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Risk management |
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Evaluating |
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Problem Solving |
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A3 – Creativity |
C3 – Finance, funding & resources |
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Inquiring minds |
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Income and funding generation |
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Intellectual insight |
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Financial management |
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Innovation |
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Infrastructure and resources |
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Argument construction |
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Intellectual risk |
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B1 – Personal qualities |
D1 – Working with others |
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Enthusiasm |
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Collegiality |
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Perseverance |
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Team working |
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Integrity |
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People management |
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Self-confidence |
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Supervision |
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Self-reflection |
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Mentoring |
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Responsibility |
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Influence and leadership |
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Collaboration |
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Equality and diversity |
B2 – Self management |
D2 – Communication & dissemination |
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Preparation and prioritisation |
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Communication methods |
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Commitment to research |
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Communication media |
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Time management |
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Publication |
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Responsiveness to change |
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Work-life balance |
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B3 – Professional & career development |
D3 – Engagement and impact |
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Career management |
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Teaching |
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Continuing professional development |
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Public Engagement |
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Responsiveness to opportunities |
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Enterprise |
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Networking |
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Policy |
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Reputation and esteem |
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Society and culture |
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Global citizenship |
Apply here
Return to the Internships & Artists Residencies 2025 page to see other internship opportunities.
First published: 4 October 2024