Science

There are many Science learning applications of Second Life and other virtual worlds. Student can gain lab skills before entering the phsycial lab where one mistake can have dire consequences. Virtual environments can simulate habitats. Models can be made of lots of microscopic items such as molecules or the inner workings of anatomy such as this tour of the testis.

Collections of Science related resources

 * Science related places in Second Life
 * Center for Water Studies
 * The Scilands
 * OpenSim-based New World Grid, viz CERN, Lab (Pic du Midi telescope under construction 2011 and Physics (which is more for fun -- think Greenies but science)
 * ====== Nuclear Reactor Tour in Second Life ======

Biology
The Genome Project in Second Life

ScienceSim
ScienceSim is an OpenSim based grid dedicated to Science applications of virtual worlds.


 * Year 8 Biology Simulation is simulating a virtual plant community (VPCsim) so 8th grade students can explore the effects of various levels and patterns of human disturbance on living things and engage in science inquiry and they are growing virtual ferns (VPGsim) to better understand how their lifecycle of independent, alternating, haploid-diploid generations affects their genetics at the population level. They were developed by a graduate student at Utah State University to support research on the population genetics of ferns with 'atypical' lifecycles. We are exploring ways to use interactive 3D simulations to teach science inquiry to middle school students and to teach genetics to undergraduates. This work was funded in part by a Discovery Research K-12 grant from the National Science Foundation. Demonstration versions of these projects may be accessed on the ScienceSim grid. For more information see the DRK-12 Cyber-enabled Learning project.