About the WEC Challenge

There are seven species that must be included in the submission in any case. You will find these characteristic species in the WEC's interactive experience (exhibition): common shrimp, tope shark, spoonbill, diatom, common seal, Japanese oyster and eel.

Think carefully about which organisms you would like to see in the game and why you have chosen these particular organisms. Think of algae and seaweed, plants, shellfish, crabs and crustaceans, mammals and birds. Why is the animal or plant you have chosen so important to include in the game? In the design of the game and during play, it must be clear that every object (animal or plant species) plays a role in the ecosystem. If a species disappears, for example because the eel is overfished, this can have consequences for the ecosystem (it collapses, the balance is lost). Therefore, the challenge is to design the game in such a way that this becomes visible and tangible.

About the Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. The reason for this special status is that it is a young, dynamic area containing landscapes in all stages of development. It is an exceptional ecosystem and is exceptionally diverse, with more than 10,000 different animals and plants. The Wadden Sea area is the only natural World Heritage Site in the Netherlands.

Design requirements

  • Each participating team consists of 4 to 30 participants (one class).
  • Participants are students in secondary education (years 1 through 6) or in the lower years of secondary vocational education (years 1 and 2).
  • Each team must submit one design for a game. The design must be submitted digitally, in the form of a video, document (PDF, PowerPoint, Word, etc.) or a clear photograph.
  • The game incorporates 54 organisms that live in or occur in the Wadden Sea.
  • The game must include at least the following species: common shrimp, tope shark, spoonbill, diatom, common seal, Japanese oyster and eel.
  • The Wadden Sea ecosystem is represented in the game in a creative way.
  • The game must be playable by visitors aged 9 to 99.
  • The completed game must be capable of being at least 150 cm high and 150 cm wide.
  • You must submit the design by 21 December 2024 to [email protected]
  • The winner will be announced on 1 March 2025 via [email protected]

Winner

The winning design will be developed and installed in the entrance hall of the WEC. The winner will be selected by the jury, which will consist at least of the WEC, IVN and the Waddenvereniging. The winning team will be invited to the opening of the WEC in April 2025 and will receive a half-day Natuurschool programme for a maximum of one class (30 students).