Molecular Genomics Education Through Gamified Cell Exploration in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Cell Explorer is an interactive Virtual Reality (VR) journey into the nucleus of a human cell, created with the intention to engage and educate visitors about the important genomic research endeavours being carried out at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Its innovative approach is characterized by the fusion of multiple resolutions of scientific data with interaction and game design techniques and 3D computer animation. Cell Explorer was created through an iterative design process, during which various tensions related to technical constraints, scientific integrity, aesthetic and user experience needed to be negotiated. The prototype is an educational tool that offers users a unique experience to facilitate a more meaningful engagement with scientific data and learn about concepts related to human genomics.