Monterey Bay Kelp Forest Minecraft Build
Saratoga, CA
2022, Senior, Interactive & Multimedia
Description: The Monterey Bay Kelp Forest Minecraft Build illustrates the complex ecosystem found in the Monterey Bay, and in particular, the importance of the kelp forest. The 4 million block build is in Minecraft, and it is open for anyone to download, explore, and play on. The virtual model is on Sketchfab, an online 3D model site, and anyone can view and explore by spinning the model around in the viewer and reading through the quick blurbs I’ve attached to each animal.
Explore the Model
Reflection
Reflection
During middle school, I was a member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Student Oceanographer Club, and in high school, a member of the Teen Researcher Program before everything came to a standstill in March 2020. As these programs shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt isolated and stagnant; I turned to Minecraft and social media to connect with others. I created MC4Good.org with the vision that I could utilize interactive media to create a community for people to learn and communicate about pressing conservation issues but, more importantly, contribute to the cause, all bound through Minecraft. I want to be able to translate the popularity and love for a video games into knowledge that students can keep with them for the rest of their lives.