Virtual reality services
Learn about how the Libraries' virtual reality services can support your coursework, instruction, research, and more.
Events
Workshops and events
We offer a variety of workshops throughout the year:
- 3D Modeling with Gravity Sketch VR
- VR for Anatomy
- VR for the Health Sciences
- VR for Stress Reduction: Meditation
- Travel the World with Google Earth VR
- Game Night!
- New tech demonstrations
Class activities
We can help faculty and instructors bring immersive experiences into their classrooms! Here are some classes that we have worked with:
- RM 3244: Virtual Reality Retailing
- OT 7541: Assistive Technology and Orthotics in OT
- ARTS 3760: Advanced Experimental Film
- MORT 3012W: Organization and Management of Funeral Business
- JOUR 4303: Advanced Visual Storytelling
- NURS 7504: Assessment and Management of Health for Advanced Practice Nurses, Practicum I
- PT 6286: Neurorehabilitation I
Upcoming events
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Explore Your Interests in Making and Virtual Reality! to Makerspace @ Health Sciences Library
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Virtual Reality Event: Game Night to Virtual Reality Studio @ Health Sciences Library
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Dive Into Virtual Reality: A Toaster VR Workshop to Toaster Innovation Hub @ Walter Library
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Introduction to the Virtual Reality Studio to Virtual Reality Studio @ Health Sciences Library
News
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A busy summer with the University Libraries Creation and Innovation Hubs!
The Libraries Creation and Innovation Hubs had a busy summer, welcoming future students into our spaces, promoting our resources to internal and external partners, and preparing for the fall semester. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at our work these past months!
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The University Libraries Creation and Innovation Hubs: What we were up to this semester!
A retrospective on workshops, events, outreach, and collobrations by the Libraries' Makerspaces, the Virtual Reality Studio, and media services program.
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Future occupational therapists are transforming the field with virtual reality and 3D printing
Future occupational therapists at the University of Minnesota are examining how emerging technologies like virtual reality and 3D printing can help people overcome their individual challenges and regain their personal autonomy.
Student groups and community partners
Student groups
Our spaces can help students connect with other students on campus. If you are an officer in a student organization and would like to plan an activity with us, please reach out!
Join the UMN Maker Discord to learn about virtual reality and makerspace activities going on across campus!
Community partners and outreach
We work with K-12 schools, libraries and youth programs to plan engaging learning activities and explore career, college or research pathways. Some programs that we have worked with include:
Equipment
Meta Quest 3
Available for use in the Virtual Reality Studio.
Meta Quest 2
Available to borrow at the Health Sciences Library for one week.
Valve Index
Available to use at the Virtual Reality Studio and the VR & Gaming Corner.
Apple Vision Pro
Available for use by appointment at the Virtual Reality Studio.
360 cameras
Available to borrow at Walter, Magrath and Health Sciences Libraries.
The easiest way to create an immersive virtual reality experience is to use a 360 camera. Point, shoot, process, and upload to YouTube, and people can watch your video in all directions!
Microsoft Hololens 2
Available for use at the Virtual Reality Studio. If you would like to borrow one for a research project, please contact us.
Logitech MX Ink
A stylus for drawing with the Meta Quest 3 and apps like Gravity Sketch, when you want a pen instead of a controller.
Other equipment
- HTC Vive XR Elite
- Vive Trackers (quantity: 8)
- Intel RealSense Depth Camera D435i
- Zed 2 depth camera
VR apps
We are developing a library collection of virtual reality experiences, starting in the health sciences and soon to be expanding into other subject areas.
Health sciences
- Primal VR (anatomy)
- Embodied Labs (building empathy)
- SimX (clinical simulations)
- BodySwaps (interpersonal and communication skills)
Design
- Enscape (architectural design with VR functionality)
- Sketchup (architectural design)
- Gravity Sketch VR (3D modeling)
Other open source and free apps
There are lots of free apps that you should try:
- Google Earth VR
- YouTube VR (360 videos)
- TRIPP (meditation)
- Hoame (meditation)
- Versailles VR
For more ideas of what you can do in virtual reality, see our guide on Virtual Reality and 3D Spatial Experiences.
Consultations
Student support
Meet with a virtual reality expert to explore your interest or curiosity with this emerging technology. Students working on capstone projects are encouraged to make use of this service! We can help with Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) projects, Master's Plan B projects, and more.
Instructor support
Our library VR experts can help you explore how virtual reality and immersive technology is used or could be used in teaching in your subject area. We can test new products, request demos, or plan activities for your class.
Research support
Virtual reality and immersive technology is rapidly evolving, and new research is always being published:
- Evidence-based health practice in the use of VR
- Teaching case studies
- Market research
- and more!
Meet with a librarian, academic technologist, or Peer Research Consultant to get help with your VR-related research.
Library VR experts
Charlie Heinz
Academic Technologist and VR Program Lead
Engagement, Outreach, and Community Partnerships
[email protected]
612-625-4812
Emerson Ironstone
Outreach and Interdisciplinary Program Specialist
Engagement, Outreach, and Community Partnerships
[email protected]
612-625-2625
Scott Spicer
Media Outreach Librarian
Engagement, Outreach, and Community Partnerships
[email protected]
612-626-0629
Jade Cabagnot
Director, Engagement, Outreach, and Community Partnerships
Engagement, Outreach, and Community Partnerships
[email protected]
Nicole Theis-Mahon
Evidence Synthesis Librarian and Collections Coordinator
Health Sciences
[email protected]
612-625-5410
Ryn Gagen
Medical School Librarian
Health Sciences
[email protected]
Subject Librarian for: Medicine, Mortuary Science, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy
Virtual Reality Studio
Four VR workstations (900 square feet) and nine gaming computers, supporting apps that run on Windows, Meta, Steam, Windows Mixed Reality and VisionOS. Open hours on most days of the week.
Room 5-132 Health Sciences Education Center
526 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
What you can do
- Games and study break activities
- App development
- Create 3D scans of objects
- Explore teaching resources
- Reserve time with the Apple Vision Pro
- Reserve a workstation to use Embodied Labs
Open hours
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Closed |
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Closed |
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Closed |
VR and gaming corner Walter Library, Toaster Innovation Hub
A 112 square foot reservable space for up to two VR stations with support for apps that run on Windows, Steam and Meta.
Toaster Innovation Hub, Walter Library
117 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
What can you do
- Games and relaxing activities
- Prototyping and modeling in VR (Meta Quest + free Gravity Sketch or free ShapesXR)
Student innovator fund
We’re calling on current UMN students who want to join a team of innovators to create social change with virtual reality. The team will help identify a project using virtual reality or related technologies that can make a meaningful impact on communities or society at large. Thanks to the generosity of Wendy Pradt Lougee Innovation Fund, we’re excited to offer up to $2000 to project co-leads and contributors and additional funding to support technologies needed for the identified project.
We welcome interest from students with ideas for this project who are interested in being co-leads, or who want to lend their design, coding, and innovative skills to support the project team. This is your chance to flex your problem-solving skills to shape the future of VR!
- Application deadline: Friday, March 20th, 2026
- Project completion deadline: Monday, August 31st, 2026
In Fall 2024, we called out for students to submit proposals for $4,500.00 in fellowship funding to work on a virtual reality or XR project that can make a meaningful impact on communities or society at large. Funding for this fellowship is thanks to the generous support of the Wendy Pradt Lougee Innovation Fund.
Please stay tuned for an upcoming celebration of the students' innovative work and learning. (The details have not been announced.)
Join the innovator teamPurpose statement
Recent advances in virtual reality and related technologies have given us new opportunities at the University of Minnesota for teaching, research, patient care, wellness and campus engagement. The Libraries help students, staff, faculty and our community partners explore these opportunities!
We have welcoming spaces for virtual reality and experts who can help you through open hours or consultations. We are developing a collection of resources for instructors to use in teaching. We plan and host fun and engaging activities with instructors as well as youth program coordinators, and we loan out equipment such as headsets and 360 cameras.
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