Games for Conflict and Resolution

Title: Games for Conflict and Resolution: Simulations that Explore Peace, Power, and Perspective

Synopsis: This session introduces the Serious Play Conference, an annual event that showcases how games and simulations are used in education, training, knowledge mobilization and real-world problem solving. I’ll share examples from my work using digital and analog games to explore themes such as conflict (resolution), displacement, and nonviolent resistance. We’ll consider how these approaches can complement traditional wargaming by offering alternative lenses to understand human behavior, power dynamics, and peacebuilding.

Bio: Paul Darvasi, PhD, is a game developer, educator, speaker, researcher and writer who works at the intersection of games, culture, and learning. He is the CEO and co-founder of Gold Bug Interactive, the Executive Director of the Serious Play Conference, and is a founding member of the PlayLab at the University of Toronto, where he lectures on social media and education, and games and learning. He is a passionate advocate of serious games, digital games for learning, media and digital literacy, design thinking, experiential learning, virtual simulations, and locative experiences. He wrote a widely circulated white paper for UNESCO about how digital games can support peace education and conflict resolution, and helped global youth develop games to prevent violent extremism in the Digital Games for Peace initiative run by UNCCT, UNESCO, and UNAOC