ePlanet–An educational game and platform for Planetary Health

Abstract

What was the educational challenge?: Planetary Health addresses the interconnections between environmental changes, social systems and human health. Despite its growing recognition, integration into medical education remains limited due to overloaded curricula and educators’ unfamiliarity with the subject. What was the solution?: The ePlanet project developed modular, open-access educational tools, incorporating serious gaming and challenge-based learning (CBL). Teaching guides support educators in implementing the materials. How was the solution implemented?: The ePlanet online serious game–freely available in English and Spanish at https://eplanet.care/game/ engages students in real-life scenarios on sustainable healthcare, nutrition, air pollution and heat, and infectious diseases. Complementary CBL modules develop competencies in systems thinking, advocacy, sustainability, and health equity. What lessons were learned that are relevant to a wider global audience?: The ePlanet materials provide a lightweight approach for integrating Planetary Health into medical education without curricular restructuring. The game’s availability in multiple languages and its open access format make it globally accessible. Pilot testing showed that serious gaming can effectively introduce Planetary Health in medical contexts. What are the next steps?: Future steps include presenting ePlanet at international conferences, integrating the materials into digital learning environments, and using them for faculty development.