To create interest in the world of plants, students of MS University, Vadodara has launched a semi-digital game. Botanifest Foundation, a start-up hatched by MSU launched Phytohunt 3.0 on Saturday at the Arboretum-cum-Medicinal Plants Garden of the University Campus. It was developed by the University’s Development, Startup and Entrepreneurship Centre. This event happened at the arboretum-cum – therapeutic plants garden on the college grounds. Phytohunt (phyto-plant, chase to look) is a plant-driven expedition game where players need to tackle the sign for a plant given in the ride. The first version of phytohunt was completely outdoor and conducted annually for four years in the Botanyfest at Waghai botanical garden.
Version 3.0 is based on the plants present at the botanical gardens, according to Krishna Singh Rajput, director of BotanyFest Foundation, the first startup of MSU’s Faculty of Science started by alumni of the botany department. “During the pandemic, to get rid of regular studies and boredom, we had started an online phytohunt on Instagram. After success in Gujarat, we organized it for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu,” Rajput said. The game was based on the historical, mythological, medicinal and biogeographical significance of plants in that state.
According to Krishna Singh Rajput, The game is structured to create interest for plants among students in schools and colleges and to develop logical thinking and reasoning, problem-solving and communication skills in them.
In phytohunt 3.0, players need to discover the plants in the nursery base on smell, taste and appearance given as a question on the site. In the wake of discovering the plant in the nursery, they need to affirm the plant with the assistance of the site to unlock the net riddle or sign. The first player to address the pieces of information and discover the treasure in the nursery wins.
“We will implement the same game for Kamatibaug garden and slowly cover all parks and gardens of Vadodara before replicating it for parks and gardens across the state.” Rajput added
