Grant Will Support Schmahl Science Workshops Sustainable Fishing Video Game Project
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 27, 2010 — AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the AMD Foundation has awarded a $35,000 grant to Schmahl Science Workshops. The grant will be used to develop a sustainable fishing video game to communicate “the danger of over fishing to long-term human survival.” This is the fifth grant the AMD Foundation has awarded this year in support of AMD Changing the Game, and the first to a Silicon Valley area non-profit organization.
The “Sustainable Seafood” game design project will guide middle school and high school students in designing and programming a Flash or Facebook game about sustainable fishing. Additionally, AMD will donate $25,000 for the purchase of 10 AMD-powered notebooks and software that will be used for the game project.
The sponsorship supports AMD’s signature education initiative, AMD Changing the Game, which promotes social issue game development as a tool to inspire teens to learn, improve their science, technology, education and math (STEM) skills, and become more attuned to global social issues.
“Since the vast majority of today’s youth play video games regularly, we believe that video game development can be a powerful means to engage and educate students,” said Allyson Peerman, President, AMD Foundation. “By creating a video game on overfishing, students will develop valuable science and math skills, while educating a broader audience on an important social issue.”
Schmahl Science Workshops (SSW) is a non-profit that provides hands-on science activities for pre-K through 12th grade level students in summer camps and afterschool/weekend programs. SSW camps and workshops cover the disciplines of earth science, life science, chemistry, physics and technology.
“Like children everywhere, the children at Schmahl Science Workshops love science and learn best when they are motivated, challenged and having fun,” said Belinda Lowe-Schmahl, Executive Director, Schmahl Science Workshops. “This video game project will not only teach the science behind game design, but also the lessons of how our daily choices can impact the environment and the world.”
To build the game and understand the ramifications of overfishing, students will need to learn about the interaction between world economies, biology and geography, among other disciplines. Students are expected to complete the basic game design this spring and during the summer camps. In doing so, students will learn game design, coding, navigation, content and strategies. School year students will then refine the game, adding new information, challenges and choices, as well as increasing playability. The game is expected to be completed in the spring of 2011.
AMD Changing the Game
AMD Changing the Game is designed to take gaming beyond entertainment by inspiring teens to create digital games on important social issues, such as energy or the environment. As a result, they enrich their educational experience by learning critical science, technology, education and math (STEM) and life skills. The initiative is rooted in AMD’s commitment to and experience in supporting education, and the company’s passion and expertise in the graphics processor and gaming industries.
Since its launch in June 2008, AMD Changing the Game has funded 17 programs by organizations that enable youth game development, including:
- Funded the development of a youth game development curriculum with PETLab and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).
- Funded the development of the World Wide Workshop Foundation’s Globaloria game-design program for the Southwest Key’s East Austin College Prep Academy in 2009 and 2010.
- Co-sponsored the Malaysian Cybergames Festival 2010, including the “Dare to Create” digital game design and development workshop.
- Funded the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers new video game design category for the 2010 and 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
- Co-sponsored the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Games for Change Festival. The 2010 sponsorship includes a day-long workshop the AMD Foundation is sponsoring to teach educators about the various tools available for youth game development.
About the AMD Foundation
The AMD Foundation connects and empowers individuals with knowledge, thereby opening doors to opportunity. The Foundation’s signature program, AMD Changing the Game, supports initiatives designed to help youth harness the power of digital games with social content, while learning critical Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills and life skills. The Foundation also funds the AMD Employee Giving Program which supports AMD employees’ community interests by matching their personal donations of time and money to local organizations and schools.
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About Schmahl Science Workshops (SSW)
Schmahl Science Workshops is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) partnership of students, parents, teachers and science professionals who work together to foster a love of science among pre-K through 12th grade children. Founded in 1996 by a group of four children and their parents, it has grown to provide an unmatched breadth of hands-on science workshops, spanning biology, chemistry, earth science, forensics, math and physics.
SSW’s mission is to prepare children of all backgrounds for a future in which science and technology will dominate every industry and vocation. Through authentic research experiences, SSW’s workshops enable students to explore and to invent what inspires them, and to develop the life skills needed to achieve career success.
About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.
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