This summer we are presenting research at two major conferences: (1) DiGRA in Ireland – early June, and (2) Games for Change in NYC – mid-July. Each talk is quite different, as are the event audiences.

For DiGRA, our big publication is “Neighborhood Making of Story Games: Accessible Joy in Low-Tech Design.” (See findings, figures and the full PDF in the link above.) We will be presenting on our work in more than 50 towns and cities to make local games tied to history and the identity of a place with public libraries. The publication is co-authored by Benjamin Stokes, Eric Schoenborn, Hazel Arroyo and Meagan Couture. Ben and Eric will be presenting on Tuesday afternoon at the conference. DiGRA 2026 is one of the most important global conferences for research on games, and this year it will be hosted in Maynooth, just outside Dublin.

For Games for Change (G4C) in New York, we will be presenting on “Playable Cities on Wheels: Humanities Trucks, Afrofuturist Shuttles, and Civic XR.” Our talk connects the six “freedom trucks” crossing the country for the 250 birthday of the USA with more community-minded approaches in DC, LA, and beyond. Games for Change is a leading global festival and nonprofit that advances games for social issues and positive social change, and was co-founded by our lab director, Benjamin Stokes. For more, see the G4C Festival 2026.