Learning to use virtual reality for marine science education
Research Mentor(s)
W. James Cooper
Description
Virtual reality (VR) can provide experiences that more closely approximate real-life than standard video. It represents a powerful set of communication tools that are seeing increasing use in many areas, including science and education. Currently most undergraduates have limited opportunities to learn how to effectively communicate with VR. This project was funded by a WWU Student Technology Fee grant to provide Western students with tools that would introduce them to using VR for communicating about the marine realm. The collaborators on this project are members of the 2021 cohort of Marine Science Scholars (MSS), which is one of WWU’s distinguished scholars’ programs. Western’s new Marine and Coastal Sciences program, which offers undergraduate degrees in integrative marine science, developed and manages MSS. Starting with a one-week residential stay at the Shannon Point Marine Center last September, these students have been learning about marine science together every quarter of the past academic year. Their studies have focused on the ecology, management, and human history of the Salish Sea. The 360° videos and images they have collected are made available here so that others can experience aspects of local marine habitats that many people never see.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
May 2022
End Date
May 2022
Location
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
UIP - Marine and Coastal Science
Genre/Form
student projects; posters
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Learning to use virtual reality for marine science education
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Virtual reality (VR) can provide experiences that more closely approximate real-life than standard video. It represents a powerful set of communication tools that are seeing increasing use in many areas, including science and education. Currently most undergraduates have limited opportunities to learn how to effectively communicate with VR. This project was funded by a WWU Student Technology Fee grant to provide Western students with tools that would introduce them to using VR for communicating about the marine realm. The collaborators on this project are members of the 2021 cohort of Marine Science Scholars (MSS), which is one of WWU’s distinguished scholars’ programs. Western’s new Marine and Coastal Sciences program, which offers undergraduate degrees in integrative marine science, developed and manages MSS. Starting with a one-week residential stay at the Shannon Point Marine Center last September, these students have been learning about marine science together every quarter of the past academic year. Their studies have focused on the ecology, management, and human history of the Salish Sea. The 360° videos and images they have collected are made available here so that others can experience aspects of local marine habitats that many people never see.