Lasell University hosted the grand opening of its new Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality lab in the Winslow Academic Center on Monday, December 9.

After being awarded a nearly $750,000 grant in June of 2023 from the Mass Life Sciences Center (MLSC), the lab is designed to offer students immersive learning experiences in a range of disciplines.

Among these topics include the implementation of chemistry and biology curriculum, including visualizing molecules, simulating experiments, cellular exploration, and anatomy visualization.

Additionally, the lab will also be utilized by several other academic programs at Lasell. The School of Fashion will utilize virtual fashion design software. The criminal justice department will use the lab for “use of force” training simulations. The lab will also be used by the Art and Fashion courses who will have the ability to create virtual galleries.

The grand opening highlighted the lab, one of four Massachusetts institutes of higher education with AR/VR technology including MIT, Northeastern, and UMass Amherst.

The event was open to students, faculty and staff and featured brief remarks from President Eric Turner, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, as well as President and CEO of Mass Life Sciences Center, Dr. Kirk Taylor.

President Turner offered remarks of excitement about the grand opening of this new learning opportunity which will begin hosting curriculum explorations in the spring of 2025.

“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,” Turner said. We believe this technology will spark interest in STEM careers among current and prospective students, including underrepresented minorities, and allow our School of Health Sciences to prepare students to be career-ready for jobs in fields such as biology, biochemistry, and forensic science.”

Dr. Taylor also addressed the audience, as the newest grant follows a prior MLSC award made in 2023 that allowed for the purchasing of laboratory equipment supporting both biology and biochemistry programs at Lasell.

“We are excited to invest in Lasell University’s efforts to develop the STEM workforce, which will help sustain and strengthen Massachusetts’ leadership in the life sciences and other STEM industries,” Taylor said. “By providing students with the opportunity to experience the life sciences in such an innovative and engaging way, we are investing in both their education and the future of life sciences in the Commonwealth.”