University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering’s Unit Ops for more than 70 years, has been the foundation for UG training in chemical engineering.

And now, Ariel Chan, assistant professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, has started utilizing VR and 3D simulations to make the lab accessible to students studying remotely during the current COVID pandemic.

“Unit Ops is like medical school for our students. It’s such a major lab, providing students with the practical experiences of an experienced engineer. Only a handful of universities in Canada have a facility like this.” – Ariel Chan.

Chan, along with her teaching assistants, is copying the Unit Ops experience using virtual reality, HD virtual tours, and 3D simulation software. These tools provide students with the opportunity to virtually access the Unit Ops and test their skills.

Using Labster, the virtual reality program, students can experience the first-person point of view as they reproduce an industry style lab experiment.

“The team mapped out every inch of the lab to create a fully immersive and comprehensive virtual experience of Unit Ops.” – Ariel Chan.

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