The Institute of Biomedical Scientists (IBMS) want to inspire and educate the next generation about possible careers in Biomedical Science.
But there was a gap between student awareness of the profession and the visibilty of the profession.
It is simply not possible to enter a sterile working laboratory to see what biomedical scientists do at work: They are healthcare’s hidden heroes!
The need was to bring to life the exciting and important lab work that is central to a career in biomedical science, in order to equip the IBMS with a way to grab student attention and ignite curiosity at school career fairs.
During the dicsovery stage we established that a virtual reality experience would allow for a high impact encounter for students that was an instant crowd puller to the IBMS stand.
We know from previous events, for example our 360 videos produced for Compassion UK, that VR headsets get attention and readily facilitate a conversation, even before the guest has put the headset on!
From their experiences Compassion UK told us “It’s fantastic having something in your hand as you say, ‘Hey would you like to hear about our work?’ and we had people queuing up to try it.”
We looked at other laboratory games, training materials and virtual reality content, but. could see that nothing currently existed that would allow for a high quality, concise and impactful experience suitable for teens, meaning we would need to make one, and so we did.
We produced our unique “IBMS Accredited Space Lab,” an immersive experience plunging students directly into the heart of healthcare.
Collaborating closely with the Institue of Biomedical Scientists we explored and outlined a practical experiment with a series of steps that would give enough of a taster for the user of the sorts of activity to expect in a laboratory, whilst also keeping the experience slick and frictionless, with around 1-2 minutes of virtual experiment time per user.
Built using Unity and designed for the Meta Quest series of headsets, in this captivating virtual world, participants become biomedical scientists in training. Guided through a simulated urine sample analysis, they navigate the intricate world of microbiology using sophisticated virtual machinery. This is more than just a game; it’s a revelation of the hidden complexities and vital importance of their field.
The IBMS Accredited Space Lab sparks a sense of wonder and ignites genuine curiosity. Young minds are challenged with the pivotal question: “Do you have what it takes to become a biomedical scientist?”
" we’ve been inundated with kids coming and asking us about how to become a biomedical scientist and to try out the VR world!"