Some visits remain with you long after you leave the campus. My visit to Stanford University was one such experience. Being at Stanford, you immediately sense the scale and the energy. Ideas seem to be everywhere—quietly but confidently in motion. Walking from hallways that transition into magnanimous open areas, moving between departments, felt refreshing and deeply conducive to thought. These spaces don’t just connect buildings; they invite movement, reflection, and creativity.
At more than one moment, I found myself wishing I had experienced this ecosystem earlier in life.
A special highlight of the visit was meeting Lucas Wang (Lecturer & Game Developer) over coffee at Wilbur Dining Hall, followed by visits to the Virtual Human Interaction Lab and Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) spaces. Viewing XR projects developed by his cohorts was a rich learning experience—each project distinct in intent, craft, and execution.
Exceptional work by Sofía Valentina Islas Gómez, Feolu, Diego, Emmanuel, Andrea, and Zoey, whose projects reflected both technical rigor and creative depth.
Our discussions ranged from Unity as a foundational XR tool, immersive storytelling, and publishing VR projects, to broader conversations on how XR, powered by AI, can shape the future of immersive experiences. We also exchanged insights on ISDI Mumbai student projects (Fashion Communication and Styling & Product Design), uncovering strong pedagogical parallels and exciting collaboration opportunities.
Lucas also shared insights on Stanford SPLASH, a program introducing middle and high school students to creative technologies, and Immerse The Bay, Stanford’s XR hackathon that brings together students, industry experts, and global XR enthusiasts to shape the next wave of immersive innovation.
I am deeply grateful to Amy LaMeyer for connecting me with David Gene Oh, to David for introducing me to Lucas, and to Lucas for his generosity in sharing time, insights, and inspiring student work.
There were fewer photographs from this visit—but far richer conversations. And those conversations made all the difference.
The visit reaffirmed a strong alignment in approaches to XR (AR + VR) education, immersive learning, and human-centered technology development, reinforcing the potential for meaningful academic and industry collaboration.
My thanks as well to the ATLAS SkillTech University leadership for this opportunity.