In classrooms across the country, a quiet crisis has unfolded for years. Chemistry—a gateway to many of the world’s most vital careers—has become one of the most challenging subjects to teach. Students struggle to connect with abstract concepts, teachers face burnout from disengagement, and the tools available often feel stuck in the past.
For Hunter Moore, this wasn’t just a problem but a call to action. Hunter Moore’s journey began with a powerful question: What’s the biggest problem we can solve that will make the most impact?
With an impressive background that includes undergraduate and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, with a focus on robotics and microelectromechanical systems, Moore brought deep expertise to his problem-solving approach.
His career has spanned nano research with Sandia National Labs, commercial aircraft manufacturing at Boeing, and work on jet engines with Pratt & Whitney. As he explored the challenges within STEM education, particularly in chemistry, the answer became clear.
“I looked at what’s the biggest, most rapidly growing market and then what’s the biggest problem in that market,” Moore recalls. “If you can identify that and solve it, you make the biggest impact on society.”
Despite its critical role in industries like healthcare, engineering, and technology, chemistry education was overdue for innovation. Often viewed as an unnecessary and too difficult option rather than an inspiring opportunity, chemistry was bogged down by uninspiring textbooks and overwhelmed educators.
Moore, however, saw potential in an unexpected solution: video games.
Determined to breathe life into chemistry education, Moore envisioned a product that could capture students’ imaginations while delivering real educational value. The result was Sci-Ops: Global Defense, an immersive video game in which players save scientists and engineers from alien invaders—all while learning core chemistry concepts.
The game was designed to do more than entertain. It intertwines chemistry fundamentals into its mechanics, from periodic table elements woven into players’ armor to lasers that rely on frequency and wavelength principles. The game’s narrative introduces students to STEM careers in an engaging, relatable way, simulating the twists and turns of real-world career paths.
“We’re trying to make this as real as possible,” Moore explains. “Replicating real career paths and tying them to the curriculum so you learn the concept and see how it’s being used.”
Turning his idea into a reality wasn’t easy. Plasma Games officially launched in 2016, fueled by Moore’s determination and a National Science Foundation award of $225,000. The startup was small—just eight employees—but their ambitions were anything but.
The Sci-Ops pilot program spanned 12 school districts, 71 teachers, and 5,000 students across North Carolina. The results were staggering: 100% of participating teachers reported that engagement, their biggest concern, was significantly improved.
The demand for Sci-Ops grew quickly, and Plasma Games is now working to expand its reach.
At its core, Plasma Games is about more than just chemistry—or even education. It’s about empowerment. Rural students who might never meet a scientist or engineer in person can now see themselves in those roles. Teachers struggling to connect with disengaged classrooms can find a new ally in Sci-Ops.
And the benefits extend far beyond individual students. By fostering interest in STEM, Plasma Games is helping to fill critical workforce gaps and ensuring that the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators is ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
Moore also sees global potential. With the U.S. falling behind countries like China in education technology, he believes Plasma Games can position the Triangle region of North Carolina as an international hub for game-based learning.
Moore often reflects on his childhood experiences with educational games like the Oregon Trail. Those games made learning fun and memorable, leaving a lasting impression. He hopes Sci-Ops can achieve the same impact—not just as a game but as a cultural phenomenon.
“I would love for people to have that kind of experience with our game,” Moore says. “So that it permeates the consciousness enough that people are thinking about chemistry, talking about chemistry, and imagining the career opportunities behind it.”
Plasma Games started with a few people and a bold idea: make chemistry engaging, inspiring, and relevant for every student. Today, that idea is transforming classrooms, empowering teachers, and opening doors to STEM careers for students everywhere.
With Sci-Ops: Global Defense, Plasma Games isn’t just changing how we teach chemistry—it’s shaping how we think about education itself. And for Hunter Moore, this is only the beginning.