Escape Rooms as a tool for science outreach: the HEPscape! experience

Escape rooms have gained significant popularity in recent years, offering a blend of puzzle-solving and treasure hunt-like challenges, making them an enjoyable activity for the participants and a team-building experience. More importantly, they provide a unique and engaging way to introduce new topics, which can be effectively leveraged for science outreach. In 2021, a team from INFN created HEPScape, an escape room focused on high-energy physics. Participants are immersed in a simulation of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, stepping into a recreated experimental control room using projectors and lights creating an immersive room. By solving hidden clues, visitors learn about the role of particle accelerators and the nature of high-energy physics experiments through a fun activity. HEPScape is designed to be adaptable to different age groups, ensuring an adapted experience for all participants. The setup is portable, requiring 3 hours to assemble, making it ideal for science fairs and exhibitions. Its mobility allows it to be brought where needed. The simplicity of the materials and the flexibility of the game design also make it easy to replicate and translate into different languages. In this report we share feedback and insights gathered from events where HEPscape was showcased.