This project seeks to revolutionize Chemical Engineering education by integrating Virtual Reality (VR) technology into the curriculum to enhance students’ spatial cognition and understanding of 3D chemical structures. Building on a successful pilot study in the ChE696 graduate elective, which demonstrated VR’s efficacy in improving comprehension, the project plans to expand VR-enhanced teaching to key undergraduate courses and create a comprehensive online framework. This will include a structured pipeline of VR modules, acclimation exercises, and best teaching practices.
The initiative will culminate in an open-source online repository, offering user-friendly modules and adaptable content for various VR platforms, designed to facilitate global adoption and adaptation in Chemical Engineering departments. The project emphasizes not only improving individual learning outcomes but also maintaining accessibility, inclusivity, and equity by addressing challenges such as cognitive load, physical accessibility, and technical familiarity, ultimately fostering a more engaging and equitable educational environment for students worldwide.
Project Team
Albert Liu
Chemical
Engineering
Nicholas A. Kotov
Chemical
Engineering
Funding
This team was awarded $10,000 in funding in Spring 2025.