The research team presented “The effect of virtual reality on chemistry laboratory anxiety and self-efficacy” at the 2026 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. The work comes from the NSF-funded project developing virtual-reality lab training modules.
Dr. Zurita Lopez presented evidence that VR practice can ease anticipatory anxiety before lab courses at the AAC&U Transforming STEM Higher Education conference.
Early results suggesting VR modules reduce student anxiety in general chemistry labs were presented in St. Paul.
Dr. Zurita Lopez presented the lab’s PGC-1α work at DiscoverBMB in Seattle and received a travel award.
Zurita Lopez Lab
Keck Center for Science and EngineeringAffiliation
Schmid College of Science & Technology