The Frameless Symposium is an interdisciplinary symposium focused on research, innovation, and artistic creation in the fields of virtual and augmented reality. The Symposium Committee invites contributions from users and creators of immersive technologies and experiences involved in academia, non-profit and educational organizations, and industry.
Duje Tadin, associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences; Jeffrey Bazarian, professor of emergency medicine; and Feng (Vankee) Lin, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, are working together to see how VR can help treat people with Alzheimer’s disease and those suffering from concussions.
Elizabeth Colantoni, associate professor of religion and classics, wanted to visualize ancient Roman topography to explore how the Temple of Jupiter fit within the larger context of Roman society. To do that, she collaborated with others at the University of Rochester to create the virtual reality experience seen here, which provides scholars and students new perspectives and expands scholarly conversation.
A $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation will provide additional impetus to a University of Rochester initiative applying augmented and virtual reality in health, education, product design, remote communication, entertainment, and other fields.
In “Digital Elmina,” three University of Rochester faculty members—Renato Perucchio, professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering and director of the archeology, technology, and historic structures program; Michael Jarvis, associate professor of history and director of Smiths Island archeology project; and Christopher Muir, professor of mechanical engineering—created 3D reconstructions of Elmina Castle, which were then visualized through Unity Gaming Engine.
Since early March, Black lives have been at the forefront of many Rochester minds, grappling with the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and most recently, one of their own community members, Daniel Prude. These events, and subsequent demonstrations and protests held across the country, have been catalysts for new conversation on and examination of the Black experience.
No one was 100 percent ready for the pandemic. Everyone went into this at different levels of preparedness for different aspects of their lives. Professionally, educators are among those who have had to adjust the most. Unless an instructor was already solely teaching online, COVID-19 has required a lot of rethinking, extra work, and in many cases, creativity.
As the nation mourns the loss of iconic Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it is also celebrating her life and what she did with it. The second-ever woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg was a feminist warrior.
Andrew White, assistant professor in the chemical engineering department, and April Luehmann, associate professor and director of secondary science education, at the Warner School of Education, are collaborating on research that explores how AR can enhance the way students learn about engineering. Studio X, the University's hub for extended reality, will provide a much-needed space where educators can develop new approaches to increase student learning and engagement.
