Nanover
Nanover worked with The Sheds to test how immersive technologies can enhance scientific research. By bringing complex biological models into virtual reality, the project helped researchers explore data more intuitively and unlock new possibilities for discovery and collaboration.
The problem
Visualising and interacting with complex biological systems can be challenging using traditional 2D displays and single-user research environments. Researchers working with advanced engineering biology projects needed new ways to explore molecular structures, understand biological processes and collaborate around highly complex data.
Researchers from the University of Bristol collaborated with Bristol Digital Futures Institute to investigate how immersive technologies could support the exploration of biological models and accelerate scientific discovery.
Our solution
Using virtual reality and The Sheds' Reality Emulator, researchers developed immersive environments that enabled users to visualise and interact with complex biological models in new ways. The project focused on engineering biology research, including work on the EOY.4D2 photovoltaic protein and GluHUT, a glucose receptor being explored for future biological electronics and carbohydrate research.
The impact
The project demonstrated how immersive technologies can help researchers better understand and interact with complex biological systems. By combining virtual reality with advanced visualisation facilities, the team was able to support research into engineering biology while creating new opportunities for collaboration and discovery.
The work also highlighted wider applications for immersive research environments. The interactive visualisation capabilities of the Reality Emulator have helped unlock conversations around the future of training, supervision and remote collaboration in complex research settings, extending the potential impact of the technology beyond the immediate scientific project.