Our Minds Project
By Jessica Mitchell (2025)
My project is a creative project in Minecraft called the "Prison of Mind" — a symbolic build designed to explore and represent mental health issues in a relatable, comforting way. Through carefully crafted environments, visual metaphors, and interactive spaces, the prison reflects the invisible walls people can feel trapped behind when struggling with their mental well-being. Each section uses unique symbolism to express emotions like anxiety, isolation, and self-doubt, while also including pathways toward hope, connection, and healing. The goal is to make deep, often overwhelming topics more approachable and to create a space where people can feel seen, understood, and less alone.
Taken from Jess's own project description
Wildcat World
By Kayla McAvinney (2024)
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This project explores the potential of Minecraft as an educational tool for understanding species extinction factors. As global wildlife populations continue to decline at an alarming rate, there is urgent need for effective environmental education. Utilizing the popularity and adaptability of Minecraft, this project aims to develop an interactive model illustrating key extinction factors, including habitat loss, decline in food availability, hunting, and hybridization, using the Scottish wildcat as the focal species.
The methods involve discussions with wildcat conservation experts to inform model parameters, followed by the development of extinction factor models integrated within the Minecraft game environment, using Java command code. Aesthetically pleasing landscapes, clear gameplay instructions, and interactive elements were implemented to enhance player engagement.
The resulting model was tested by participants and feedback gathered highlights player engagement and clarity of instructions. This feedback serves as a foundation for future steps, including refining the model, adding complexity, and conducting further testing with focus groups to explore potential implementation in educational settings.
Overall, this research highlights the potential of gaming platforms like Minecraft in promoting awareness and understanding of species extinction factors, offering a novel approach to environmental education in an increasingly digital world.
Above taken from Kayla's dissertation submission
Minecraft: Disease Detectives
By Perrin Grant (2023)
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Minecraft: Disease Detectives is a public engagement project previously sponsored by Research Development Scotland and the Darwin Trust. The project builds on the work of two University of Edinburgh students, and has led to an amazing scale model of Scotland, in which a mystery illness is spreading across the country.
We have used this activity at schools in Fife and for pupils in Edinburgh, at the Science Skills Academy Newton Rooms, at Edinburgh Science Festival and even at Belladrum music festival! The aim of the activity is for you to learn more about how viral infections spread, and how we as scientists collect data out in the "field", how we use that data in the lab, and how we interpret it all using computers.
We have used this activity at schools in Fife and for pupils in Edinburgh, at the Science Skills Academy Newton Rooms, at Edinburgh Science Festival and even at Belladrum music festival! The aim of the activity is for you to learn more about how viral infections spread, and how we as scientists collect data out in the "field", how we use that data in the lab, and how we interpret it all using computers.
Epidemicraft
By Siobhan Vickerstaff (2020)
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Epidemiological models allow scientists to track and analyse disease transmission and progression patterns to better understand the pathogens that plague us. Often these models can require intense interdisciplinary knowledge which can be difficult to broach with students who are beginning to learn about epidemiology. It can also be difficult to include practical modelling experience into educational settings without overwhelming the students or teachers.
The aim of this project was to assess Minecraft as a novel modelling tool that can broach these issues while still facilitating the creation of scientifically accurate epidemiological models. Two models were created: a discrete lattice SIR model made from blocks, and a particle-based SIR model using mobs – moving, ‘living’ entities controlled by the game.
Both models successfully created visual SIR models which were stable and interactive. When compared to a more traditional Python lattice model, however, the discrete model was statistically different. The villager model was deemed inappropriate for comparison due to difficult game mechanics but still displayed potential for scientific benefit. The models created show Minecraft has the strong potential to become an intuitive and novel modelling software and should be explored further.
Above taken from Siobhan's dissertation submission