Dunedin anatomy and science communication PhD student Ruth Warren had initially planned to study public guided tours of the University of Otago’s W.D. Trotter Anatomy Museum, and to survey participants.
The public tours are often linked with the New Zealand International Science Festival, but this year’s festival in early July was greatly scaled back and the public tours were cancelled, at least partly because of the lockdowns.
Working closely with museum organisers and Dunedin film-maker and Centre for Science Communication Professional Practice Fellow Jeff Avery, Ms Warren has helped develop a free virtual reality tour of the museum, partly to ensure her planned PhD research project could be undertaken.
The museum includes exhibits dating from 1875.
Ms Warren and museum organisers are offering the free virtual reality tour of the museum, linked to the research project.
The museum had traditionally been used for teaching medical students but the wider public might also have an interest in the human body, Ms Warren said.
It was important to explore the possible value of sharing these spaces, and her research sought to understand why people might want to visit and what they gained from the experience.
The new virtual reality tour of the anatomy museum was free to any New Zealander aged 16 or older who agreed to take part in the associated research, which involved taking short surveys before and after the visit.
For anyone seeking more information or wishing to register for the study: https://otago.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bPjkf6vOdIJkTJP
