What is it about?
Metaverse technology stands to greatly benefit plant science. Tomorrow’s scientists can be trained in critical thinking to foster discursive exchanges free of unchallenged groupthink. Experiential learning can help themexplore and makemistakes safely. Gamified simulations can hasten learning and improve outcomes. The technology enables novel means to visualize and synthesize omic data (e.g., phenomic data, proteomic data), which can revolutionize artificial intelligence (AI) research. Digital twins can easily integrate disciplines and stakeholders into research and innovation (R&I).
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Why is it important?
Plant science is entering a new paradigm for engagement and interactions enabled by the metaverse. Standing on the pillars of advanced technologies like extended reality (XR), a catchall term for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), the plant science metaverse actively supplements brick-and-mortar campuses. It engages humans as digital facsimiles of themselves, or avatars, blurring the line between physical and digital spaces.
Perspectives
Assisting students and young researchers to acquire metaverse literacy skills requires concerted efforts. Resource disparities between wellfunded groups and under-resourced communities lead to inequitable adoption of the metaverse science innovations. Establishing funding mechanisms that support independence in the metaverse research setting remains a formidable challenge. Delivering optimal experiences in the metaverse necessitates continuous advancements in software and hardware capabilities and broadband infrastructure.
Piermaria Corona
CREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Metaverse technology innovating plant science research and learning, Trends in Plant Science, October 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.09.009.
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