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Grand opening reveals cutting-edge AR/VR Lab

Writer's picture: CAITLIN ORSINO & HANNA BABEKCAITLIN ORSINO & HANNA BABEK

President Eric Turner cuts the ribbon to officially open the Augmented/Virtual Reality Lab. Photo courtesy of David Nathan.
President Eric Turner cuts the ribbon to officially open the Augmented/Virtual Reality Lab. Photo courtesy of David Nathan.

The Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality Lab (AR/VR Lab) celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 9 with Lasell community members and special guests including President Turner and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. The lab, located in the Winslow Academic Building, will be used by anatomy, physiology, biology and forensic science classes to explore virtual models of biological systems, conduct virtual dissections and understand anatomy, genetics and other life science topics in a new, hands-on way.


The project was funded by a Workforce Development Capital Grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) amounting to $744,629. In addition to the grant, in 2023 MLSC presented an award to purchase laboratory equipment for the biology and biochemistry programs, bringing MLSC’s total monetary gift to over $1.4 million. Lasell worked with WorldViz, a leading company in the virtual reality lab industry to install the lab.


Lasell is currently the only small institution in Massachusetts to have an AR/VR lab, with the only comparative technology belonging to Harvard, UMass Amherst and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


“We thank the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for supporting our efforts to meet the existing and projected future demand for jobs in the life sciences,” President Eric Turner said. “We believe this technology will spark greater interest in STEM careers among current and prospective students from multiple disciplines and backgrounds.”


The grand opening ceremony took place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the lab. President Turner, President and CEO of MLSC Kirk Taylor and Mayor Fuller addressed the Lasell community before joining students, faculty and staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the lab.

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