Project highlights
See some of the recent work coming out of Birkbeck's Immersive Learning Centre (ILC).
Using immersive technologies to explore archaeological remains
Members of the ILC visited the Thames foreshore with Birkbeck Archaeology staff and students to investigate maritime artefacts at low tide. What followed was an unforgettable hands-on experience that combined history, technology, and creativity. Birkbeck work placement student, Jorge Bau I Munguira, shares how it went in this blog, after interviewing ILC staff member Luca Battiston.
Improving access to geology fieldwork
An innovative virtual field trip designed to make geology fieldwork more accessible has earned the ILC and Steve Hirons, Teacher and Researcher in the School of Natural Sciences, the Vice-Chancellor's Team Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Read the news story about the Vice-Chancellor's award.
Immersive exhibition in Malet St
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.