Virtual Bioreactor Project

Work in progress!

A virtual reality (VR) bioreactor offers significant benefits for biomanufacturing and environmental engineering students by providing a safe and accessible platform for hands-on learning. It allows students to explore complex processes like cell culture, fermentation, and waste treatment without the high costs, safety risks, and time constraints of a physical lab. Within this virtual environment, students can manipulate parameters, such as pH, temperature, and nutrient levels, to observe their direct impact on microbial growth or pollutant degradation. This enables them to develop critical problem-solving skills and a deeper intuitive understanding of process dynamics. Furthermore, the VR bioreactor allows for the simulation of various scenarios, from optimizing production yields in biomanufacturing to managing a contaminated site in environmental engineering, preparing students for real-world challenges in their future careers. Ultimately, this technology enhances their practical knowledge, bridges the gap between theory and application, and accelerates their learning curve in a highly engaging and interactive way.