BASILISK, the global esports organization built to champion science, debuted two historic partnerships at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this week – furthering its mission to elevate science advocacy through the global reach and cultural influence of competitive gaming.
BASILISK’s new strategic partnerships with the California Institute of Technology’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM) and The Planetary Society create a powerful bridge between renowned scientific institutions and the next generation of STEM enthusiasts.
“To root for BASILISK is to root for Science,” said BASILISK co-founder Christopher Bothur. “We are proud to showcase IQIM and The Planetary Society logos on our jerseys. Together, we are meeting curious scientific minds where they are: watching and playing video games. With over 600 million global esports fans, this is a necessary evolution in science advocacy.”
“Science at its best is play,” said Dr. Spiros Michalakis, Outreach Manager and Staff Researcher at IQIM, and scientific advisor to Marvel Studios. “To me, a great game is an opportunity to bring together friends and people who may become friends from around the world to participate in a story of their own making. You’re playing so hard that you break the world and get to put it together again. That’s science! Partnering with BASILISK fills a gap by connecting emotionally and culturally with young people to focus on what makes science so magical.”
Learn more here: Quantum Esports? Caltech’s IQIM x BASILISK Partnership
