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A ground-breaking virtual reality program created by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology (PEB) at The University of Western Australia takes students on an exciting immersive journey through the cells of plants normally too small to be seen and highlights plant research that is contributing to global food security.

The Virtual Plant Cell (VPC) is being trialled with school students at Trinity College, taking the cutting-edge technology into the classroom and providing a fun, interactive educational experience for them.

UWA PEB Science Communications Officer Karina Price, who has led the project, said the technology created a learning experience inside “worlds” that could not be observed in reality and resulted in a truly unique way of engaging students in science.

By including links to real-world agricultural challenges and highlighting local research endeavours to adapt plants for the future, VPC also helps students understand how science can be applied.

“We believe that virtual reality used in this way, and at this scale, in Australian classrooms is unprecedented,” Ms Price said.

“Changing the course of global food security starts with educating our own community and through the Virtual Plant Cell we can communicate vital plant research in a way that is really interesting and easy to understand.”

Ms Price said past challenges with teaching cell biology, particularly due to the microscopic size of cells, had been overcome using the new technology, which provided a visual, auditory and spatial learning environment.

“With Classroom VPC, we’re also building science understanding, helping students develop skills and inspiring career aspirations toward the critical areas of agriculture and our future food production,” Ms Price said.

Science teacher at Trinity College, Tim Blake said the technology was something he had been waiting to have in the classroom for years.

“It offers a great advantage for teaching harder concepts such as cell three dimensionality and is a whole new world of learning,” Mr Blake said.

“The excitement and engagement this has generated amongst the students is phenomenal.

“Students have indicated it has made them more interested in learning and has helped them retain more information because they are engaged and having fun while learning at the same time.”

VPC was announced last week as a Western Australian Premier’s Science Awards finalist for its engagement of the community in science.

Media references

Karina Price ( UWA PEB Science Communications Officer) 08 6488 4481 / 0401 859 792
Jess Reid (UWA Media and Public Relations Advisor) 08 6488 6876