Partnering with Virginia Tech
The Science Museum of Western Virginia has forged a unique relationship with Virginia Tech to support the pathway of university research onto a public platform, and provide our visitors the chance to get hands-on experience with innovative technology.
For Virginia Tech, the partnership supports the pathway of university research to public engagement. For the museum, the partnership provides programming, exhibits, expertise, and interns. Dr. Phyllis Newbill, a jointly supported researcher in informal education, facilitates faculty, students, and staff from both organizations to catalyze and sustain this collaboration. She spends one day a week at the museum and the remaining days at Virginia Tech. At Virginia Tech, the partnership is overseen by the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology and the College of Science.
Featured Virginia Tech Projects
Dense Space
Paola Zellner & Charles Nichols
Dense Space is a responsive audiovisual environment. It explores the use of linear fibre material to generate forms that in their interplay with light and motion densify the space, increasing its presence, and augmenting the experience of space. It is accompanied by Charles Nichols’ composition, Beyond the Dark.
Plasma
George Hardebeck
Virginia Tech creative technologies graduate student George Hardebeck combined the interactive technology of the Leap sensor with a virtual environment to create this installation. He wrote code to give instructions to the particles that move and bounce in the space as well as respond to your hand. Inspired by plasma globes, the project experiments with game environments and sensors.
Mirrorcraft
Ico Bukvic
Mirrorcraft is an interactive exhibit that allows the user to see his or her mirror image in the version of a Minecraft avatar. A Kinect will allow the avatar to mirror the user’s body and facial movements.
Dr Phyllis Newbill
Working as a jointly supported researcher in informal education, Dr Phyllis Newbill facilitates faculty, students, and staff from both organizations to catalyze and sustain the museum’s collaboration with VT and ICAT.