Project highlights

See some of the recent work coming out of Birkbeck's Immersive Learning Centre.

New immersive exhibition in Malet St

Four frames holding black and white images on a white wall. Below them are text explanations, set separately on the wall.

To celebrate the opening of the Immersive Learning Centre, the ILC team worked with Birkbeck archivist Sarah Hall to create an exhibition of photographs and engravings highlighting key moments and developments in teaching and learning at Birkbeck over the last 200 years. Each image has a QR code which can be scanned and viewed with a smart-phone to trigger an experimental 'augmented reality' animation, created with a generative AI tool, Google Flow.

Head of the ILC, Toby Butler commented: "We wanted to emphasise that the ILC is the latest in a long line of innovative teaching and research facilities here at Birkbeck.

“Animating historical images from Birkbeck's archive has been a fascinating process which raises interesting issues around creativity and authenticity. But there is something quite magical about bringing photographs to life with sound and movement, and they have been extremely well received by visitors and prospective students."

The photos and engravings can be seen in the corridor opposite the main entrance of the Malet St building.

Impulse: Playing with Reality, Arts Week 2025

As part of Birkbeck's Arts Week 2025, staff, students and guests were immersed in Impulse: Playing with Reality - a powerful mixed reality experience exploring life with ADHD. Hosted by the Immersive Learning Centre, it showcased how VR can deepen empathy and transform learning.

Artec Leo and Spider 2

The Artec Leo and Spider 2 are high-performance 3D scanners widely used across industries to capture detailed, full-colour models — from large environments to finely detailed objects. Recently acquired by the Immersive Learning team, these scanners will support innovative approaches to teaching, research, and design at Birkbeck. The team received expert-led training from Alex Chung from Central Scanning, gaining hands-on insight into how these tools can enhance interactive learning experiences.

George Birkbeck brought back to life for the University’s 200-year celebration

See how we used immersive technology to bring George Birkbeck to life in celebration of the university’s 200th anniversary.