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The Promise of Immersive Realities with Wesley Della Volla (UO Portland)

Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 5:00pm to 7:30pm

White Stag Block, First Floor Conference Room
70 NW Couch Street, Portland, OR 97209

The University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication is excited to present a shared, synchronized, immersive reality experience to demonstrate how immersive media like virtual reality and augmented reality can go beyond novelty to become an indispensable tool for communication, connection, and sharing knowledge.  

Attendees will wear virtual reality headsets while Wesley Della Volla, founder of Meridian Treehouse and an immersive experience pioneer, guides you through multiple experiences from the stage, transporting you to places few can go and making it possible for you to see, firsthand, the potential for immersive media to revolutionize how we communicate.

This free event takes place at 5 p.m. PST Thursday, February 23, at UO Portland on the White Stag Block in Portland. The same talk will also be delivered at 4 p.m. PST Tuesday, February 21, in the Redwood Auditorium in the Erb Memorial Union on the Eugene UO campus. Registration is required, and limited, for both events. These talks will not be livestreamed, but we will release a recording after the event.

 

About the Speaker

The founder of Meridian TreehouseWesley Della Volla is a visionary, innovator, and immersive experience pioneer. Whether transforming National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium into the largest, permanent virtual reality theater in the world or winning Emmy, National Press Photographers Association, and Webby awards for his innovative storytelling, Wesley pushes the boundaries of what is possible. He also shares his expertise at the intersection of education and entertainment as an adjunct lecturer in Georgetown University’s Environmental Studies Department, Resident Immersive Experience Innovator at the Harvard University Innovation Lab, and the publisher of “An Introduction to Learning in the Metaverse” practitioner’s guide.

Meridian Treehouse is an award-winning nonfiction storytelling and experiential innovation company that cultivates multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Its team of scientists, educators, storytellers, and technologists are committed to using the tools of today and tomorrow to build accessible and inspiring lifelong learning resources. Meridian Treehouse specializes in developing multiplatform experiences, content, and partnerships that educate and entertain—all with the goal of fostering curiosity, free from outdated spatial and logistical constraints.

 

About the Event Sponsor

The annual UO School of Journalism and Communication’s Robert and Mabel Ruhl Lecture brings the most influential voices in mass communication to campus.

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This event requires registration.