VULCANOPOLY: playing towards a better future

The goal of scientific dissemination is to reach all levels of age and social origin of the population, simplifying scientific concepts and making them appealing to the general public.A common and understandable language has always been the visual one, for this reason many authors use images as a tool to convey scientific notions and discoveries. From its origins, science has placed images at the center of its communication processes: drawings, diagrams and then, subsequently to scientific discoveries, photographs, films up to satellite images.In this framework, we emphasize the importance of playful-didactic activity and visual language to facilitate learning and, in particular the development of scientific games. Our working group has been collaborating for years in the organization of dissemination events with the aim of increasing knowledge on the major geological issues for the protection of the planet.In this context it is important to highlight the role of scientific dissemination and the different methodologies to be used.One of the most used and appreciated tools has been the creation of scientific-didactic games: to simplify concepts, the game has in fact proved to be a fundamental tool.We present VULCANOPOLI, inserted in a series of science games that started with MAREOPOLI (Locritani et al. 2017) and inspired by Hasbro’s famous MONOPOLY. The main topic is volcanoes, both from a scientific and a historical point of view. Thanks to this game the historical evolution of some of the most important Italian Volcanoes can be reconstructed. The rules are those of the original game with some additional questions and concepts to remember, to conquer cities and accumulate points. The VULCANOPOLY game-board consists of thirty-six spaces containing twenty-one villages and cities on three main italian active volcanoes (Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna and Stromboli Island) and one quiescent volcano (Colli Albani Volcanic District), four Chance spaces and four Community Chest spaces, a hot water baths space, a geothermal energy space, an underpass space, and the four corner squares: GO, Viewpoint, Magma Chamber and Connecting way. A deck of thirty-two Chance and Community Chest cards (sixteen each) which players draw when they land on the corresponding squares of the track, and follow the instructions and myths, legends and folklore tales  based on real events printed on them.Each time a player's token lands on or passes over GO, whether by throw of the dice or by drawing a card, the Volcanologist gives that player a volcanic rock (basalte, tuff, pozzolana, pumice, obsidian, scoria). The game can be played at secondary schools with the participation of INGV researchers. The game follows the same rules as the MONOPOLY but mediated by the presence of a researcher.