Fernhill Park Experience is in partnership with Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC). The project funding was received from the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI) for the development of an interactive and educational, augmented reality (AR) exhibit based on the new Fernhill Park and Gardens. 

 

The AR game has been developed in collaboration with IADT’s Public Design Lab, Dublin based design company Noho and DLRCC . A map of Fernhill was designed to pair with the AR tool which displays how anthropogenic influence and land-use change have shaped and impacted the park. 

 

The project aims to provide an accessible learning tool that encourages engagement with the topics of ecology and resource use, to help engender environmentally, ecologically and future aware citizens. It also aims to spark curiosity and engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), from groups currently identified as being unengaged with STEM. 

 

The gamified experience positions the player as guardian of Fernhill Park. As guardian, the player can choose to make changes to the park under the areas of rewilding, reforestation and renewable energy. The player will learn about the impacts of these changes and based on their learning, they will decide a future scenario for Fernhill. 

 

The project was launched in Marlay Park in April 2022 and a series of engagements were carried out across libraries and primary schools in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown region.