EXPLORE VR
Train like a marine biologist with this interactive virtual reality (VR) experience where you can tag manta rays, monitor ocean health from outer space, measure changes in coral reef biodiversity, and more!
This 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) VR experience combines underwater 360º video and CGI animation to create a fully immersive and interactive ocean environment. Dive in!
Explore VR was originally created for the scientific research project “Advancing Ocean Literacy through Immersive Virtual Reality,” which seeks to understand the effects of VR experiences on ocean science learning, empathy, and self-efficacy.
PARTNERSHIPS
This work was a partnership between The Hydrous, The Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University, Inverness Research, and Horizon Productions, with funding from the National Science Foundation’s Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program.
Explore VR was also created as part of the Decade of Ocean Empathy, a program partner with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
HONORS & TESTIMONIALS
Explore VR was an official selection for the Cannes World Film Festival and the Tokyo International Short Film Festival. It was the Grand Winner for Best Virtual Reality Short at the Cannes World Film Festival.
“This is so visually impressive!”
"My main takeaway was feeling a connection to a place I haven’t been before.”
"A lot of people know about some of the problems -- like coral bleaching -- but being able to see it in more depth makes you think about it differently.”
“This is a cool introduction to tools scientists might use.”