XR Lab Awards 10 Microgrants with National Science Foundation’s Support

Bellevue College has initiated a series of microgrants designed to fuel Extended Reality (XR) research. The microgrants are part of a larger grant awarded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The effort is part of Bellevue College’s commitment to place itself at the cutting edge of XR development. 

Last year, the National Science Foundation awarded Bellevue College’s XR Lab $749,543 over a three-year period. The grant aims to foster innovation in the XR field through the newly established Northwest XR Education Network. The network is open to all educators and XR professionals in the region who are involved in pioneering new methods of XR application in educational settings. 

This summer, the network’s steering committee distributed 10 microgrants of $1,000 each. These microgrants, awarded as faculty stipends, support research that guides and inspires other XR labs and educators.  

“The work we do in the XR Lab is about testing and trying what works and sharing a pathway for other XR labs, schools, and learners to follow,” Bellevue College XR Lab Program Specialist Drew Stone said. 

The first microgrant cycle received an enthusiastic response, with 29 submissions from across the United States and Kenya by the spring deadline. Ten innovative projects were selected for funding, including three from Bellevue College faculty members Li Liu, Reza Forough, and Christina Sciabarra.  

Bellevue College Projects: 

• Li Liu: Recreating the early animation work of Lotte Reininger’s silhouette films in XR for a global animation curriculum. 

• Reza Forough: Utilizing photogrammetry to create 3D replicas of student-made anatomical models within a virtual gallery. 

• Christina Sciabarra: Developing 360-degree visualization tools to explore the relationship between local flora and climate change.  

These projects will be documented and shared, enriching the repository of accessible XR educational resources.  

The second cycle of faculty learning cohorts mini-grant applications will open in Fall Quarter 2024, continuing the momentum of this transformative educational initiative.  

“Grant applications for the second cycle will have additional early resources for applicants to help them craft the project proposals,” Stone said. “Bellevue College is excited about the potential of the Northwest XR Education Network to significantly impact the integration of XR technologies in educational practices nationally and globally. Thanks to the continued support of the National Science Foundation, the XR Lab remains committed to leading the way in XR education and research.” 

Extended Reality Defined

Extended Reality (XR) is a collective term for immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). These technologies merge virtual and real-world elements to create interactive and immersive experiences. XR is increasingly utilized in various sectors, including education, healthcare, and entertainment, to enhance user engagement and learning outcomes.