Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal

Think outside the booth: An immersive virtual exhibit for discussing science and technology with an audience from around the world (page 32)
Tasker, E.J., Moss, V.A., Rees, G.A., Hotan, A.W., Ekers, R.D., Kobayashi, R., Kerrison, E.F., & Amos, K.V.H.

Exhibition booths provide a platform for organisations to showcase their specialities but are often limited by space and prohibitive costs for transporting large or fragile equipment. To address this, we developed a three-dimensional virtual exhibit that allows visitors to explore the technology and research behind the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope through interactive models of antennas and other components of the telescope array, including 360-degree visuals and animations. People can meet inside the virtual space regardless of their physical location to tour the exhibit and engage in discussions. The exhibition can be accessed through nearly any internet-accessible device, including a virtual reality (VR) headset, computer, or smartphone. The virtual exhibit was demonstrated at three in-person conferences by using a VR headset to access the exhibit from a conference booth, with both in-person and online team members to support the space. Participants were markedly impressed by the sense of presence in the 3D space and the ability to meet with experts who were not attending the conference. Such virtual spaces can be constructed relatively simply and have the potential to bridge online and in-person participants, as well as demonstrate facilities impossible to carry to event locations.

Suggested Citation (APA)
Tasker, E.J., Moss, V.A., Rees, G.A., Hotan, A.W., Ekers, R.D., Kobayashi, R., Kerrison, E.F., & Amos, K.V.H. (2024). Think outside the booth: An immersive virtual exhibit for discussing science and technology with an audience from around the world. Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal, 35, 32-40. https://www.capjournal.org/issues/35/35_32.pdf