Diamondback Energy and syGlass Open a VR STEM Lab
At Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) in Midland ISD, Diamondback Energy and syGlass have launched a cutting-edge virtual reality STEM laboratory. Two authorised courses in neuroscience and physiological and anatomical sciences are offered to students at the centre. These immersive and collaborative learning environments combine innovative technology with scientific inquiry.
Through the use of virtual reality tools, YWLA students can work with academics from prestigious universities such as Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, the University of South Florida, and the John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory to conduct studies and analyse data.
The lab’s virtual reality component allows students to examine anatomical parts including the brain, heart, and cranium on a magnified size, according to Ashley Colquitt, a corporate relations representative for Diamondback Energy. Students can communicate with organs as if they were classroom-sized replicas thanks to this technological innovation, which makes the material come to life. To make the difficult topic of neuroscience more approachable and interesting, the course material also uses resources like Backyard Brains.
Ashley Colquitt, a corporate affairs representative with Diamondback Energy, explained that the lab’s virtual reality component enables students to explore anatomical structures such as the heart, brain, and skull on a magnified scale. This immersive technology brings the content to life, allowing students to interact with organs as if they were classroom-sized models. Additionally, the curriculum incorporates tools like Backyard Brains, which make the complex subject of neuroscience more accessible and engaging.
This initiative’s main objective is to close the knowledge gap between theory and practice, enabling students to choose careers in science and medical. Colquitt claims that many well-known STEM schools do not have a lab like this, hence Midland ISD’s growth is noteworthy. She underlined that this kind of facility gives students a special chance to use immersive technology to engage with cutting-edge data.
The new STEM lab is revolutionary, according to YWLA Principal Laura Doughty, who also highlighted the direct involvement students have with the facility. According to her, the lab provides students with unmatched learning possibilities by enabling them to engage with VR information in ways that are not possible with more conventional approaches like textbooks and movies. For example, students may visually dissect and analyse the skeletal system using VR headsets to get a thorough understanding of it.
Additionally, Doughty noted that these classes, when combined with talks from medical professionals, greatly improve students’ educational experiences. She thinks that this practical approach encourages kids to seek jobs in science and medicine and supports the school’s STEM concentration.
In order to overcome gender imbalances in STEM professions, the STEM lab programme is particularly significant. Women are often under-represented in fields like anatomy and neurology, Doughty said. By offering these opportunities, the programme breaks down barriers and inspires female students to see themselves in these professions.
Arisayo Navarrete, a junior, credits the lab for helping her get ready for a future in ultrasound technology. She clarified that having the capacity to scan and analyse MRIs, bones, and the brain provides a unique viewpoint that goes beyond what is often taught in a classroom. She especially likes the “cut” option in the VR lab since it lets her examine internal organs like veins and nerves in great detail.
Colquitt emphasised Diamondback Energy’s dedication to education in her closing remarks. The organisation has a strong commitment to training tomorrow’s leaders, and the VR STEM laboratory is a prime example of their commitment to advancing this objective, she said.