Ms. Schavan: „I hope there are many young players“.
„Research is the best medicine – the Game“ is finding more enthusiastic fans, even amongst politicians. So opined German Education Minister Annette Schavan (CDU) about the online game promoted by the Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies(VFA) (www.forschung-ist-die-beste-medizin-das-spiel.de). „Research is the best medicine” offers plentiful opportunities to stimulate interest in the sciences and acquire substantial knowledge and it is an important contribution to development of ideas and further education among children and young people”, said the new Education Minister.
In Schavan’s own words: „I welcome the opportunity, provided by VFA’s Online-Game, to give players the role of researcher into research methods and development of medicines while at the same time gaining knowledge about illnesses and their courses and possible cures“. As education is the prerequisite for socially integrated participation and a successful career, the education of children and young adults must be actively encouraged, regardless of social background and individual aptitude. „Hopefully there will be many young players“, said Minister Schavan.
The game, which was conceived, developed and realized both technically and in its content by the Juwi MacMillan Group in an assignment awarded by the VFA, is aimed at young people interested in research and at curious adults. Each month, players in the role of project leader in the virtual company „Mediforsch“ and are given the task, under realistic conditions, of developing a new treatment for a specified common ailment.
All of the required information to ensure a successful project is included directly in the game: from „Mediforsch“ colleagues, in articles, films and interviews and “live-chats” with medical experts. For the „researcher of the month“ there is a prize of 1.000 Euro, and for the overall winner, with the six best monthly results, there is a further 10.000 Euro prize. „Research is the best medicine – the Game” runs until October 2006, so every player still has a chance of winning the big prize!
You’ll find the game here:
www.forschung-ist-die-beste-medizin-das-spiel.de
About the VFA
The Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller (VFA) is the association of drug researching medicine manufacturers in Germany. The VFA looks after the commercial interests of 39 globally active and leading pharmaceutical manufacturers with their more than 100 subsidiaries and affiliated firms in the health, research and economic fields. VFA members represent two thirds of the entire German medicine market and employ in Germany around 86.000 workers, of whom more than 14.500 are in research and development.
Within the „Research is the best medicine – the Game” and associated information campaign, the VFA informs of the importance of research in the development of new treatments. Researchers talk about breakthroughs which have already been made, about innovations on which work is intensive while patients explain how various medicines have cured or mitigated their illnesses and improved their quality of life.
Further information is available at
www.die-forschenden-pharmaunternehmen.de
