VITAL : Virtual Reality (VR)

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM):
This ultra-advanced equipment (LVEM25) offers valuable visualization of the inner structure of a cell sample, including crystal structure and morphology. TEM provides students and faculty members an in-depth understanding of the subject matter related to biological samples and provides skills to students that are needed to be competent in several educational research programs upon graduation. The LVEM25 is a low voltage electron microscope that offers a high-contrast, high-throughput, compact imaging solution with nanometer resolutions that has all the benefits of low voltage microscopy with no limitations. This instrument provides researchers and students with highly advanced structural views, calculations, and structural predictions of samples in teaching and research. The integration of this technology will be very effective to involve students in innovative teaching and research in STEM disciplines.

It can also be used to study the activities, functions, properties, and organization of cells and the analysis of fine structures of a biopsy. This specific microscope has the added benefit of being able to work with conventionally prepared thin sectioned materials and doesn’t’t require staining of samples. This provides images without the side effects often encountered with staining artifacts.

For equipment use, please contact VITAL STEM Imaging Exploration Center. Also, please review our equipment usage policy prior to use of this equipment.

Micro-Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner
Micro-computed tomography is used to provide X-ray imaging in 3D with significantly increased resolution. The SkyScan1275 is a micro-CT that is specially designed to produce 3D high-speed imaging without compromising image quality. Using new X-ray source technology and efficient flat-panel detectors, the micro-CT reduces scan times down to a few minutes for routine sample scanning at the push of a button. Being able to study the 3-dimensional (3D) structure and morphology of tissues with high-resolution imaging is becoming increasingly important in biomedical research. Micro-computed tomography generates scans similar to CT scans performed in hospitals but on a smaller scale and offers a greatly enhanced resolution.

Micro-CTs are often used to evaluate bone structure as it offers excellent cross-sectional images of skeletal structures. For example, it can be used to study bone diseases such as osteoporosis and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutics such as bisphosphates. In addition to bone research, micro-CT is commonly used to study cancer biology. With the development of new contrast agents, micro-CT scanning of soft tissue is an emerging area for this modality, particularly in the area of cardiovascular and pulmonary research.

For equipment use, please contact VITAL STEM Imaging Exploration Center. Also, please review our equipment usage policy prior to use of this equipment.Virtual Reality Pods and VITAL Research Lab

Using advanced VR technologies, students can view the world of Chemistry, Biology, and Forensic Science through a lens that they could not see before. For example, students are able to visualize how the 3D structure of chemical compounds and a protein is represented.

Using our VR facility, students and faculty members can themselves be part of a 3D environment and can get very close to molecules, proteins, the cellular world, and so much more. This advanced VR technology will help our students to be more confident, more engaging, and more involved in many of their classroom topics; and as a result, the rate of their success in many STEM courses will increase.

Currently, more than 7 courses from Chemistry, Biology, Forensic Science, and Environmental Science have already adopted VR classroom teaching and we are hoping more and more courses will adopt these VR teaching technologies.

For equipment/ VR Pods use, please contact VITAL STEM Imaging Exploration Center. Also, please review our equipment usage policy prior to use of this equipment.

With VR Halo Classroom, VITAL Research lab, and multiple VR Pods/ stations, our STEM Imaging Exploration Center is located in Hubert-D Building, 3rd Floor (Lab #442, # 444).

To schedule a visit using the contact information below:

The STEM Imaging Exploration Center is currently able to provide equipment/ facility usage and services to SSU researchers because of generous funding provided by Title III to VITAL program.

In order for us to keep providing these services, the facility needs to effectively demonstrate our contributions to user research and coursework. In order to do this, we appreciate the commitment of Facility users to conscientiously and accurately acknowledge the VITAL facility and equipment use in all relevant publications.

An example of a citation:
“This publication/ work was made possible in part by the Title III funded VITAL program at Savannah State University (SSU). The author(s) wish to acknowledge the VITAL facility’s STEM Imaging Exploration Center at SSU.”

Please note that VITAL program has specific objectives, targeted courses and planned events that are program’s priority before extending the use of the VR center to additional courses/events. So, if your course/ activity is not part of VITAL program, please reach out to VITAL activity director for the approval to use the facility/equipment.

If you plan on using images/ data taken during your visit to the virtual reality facility in any format, before doing so, please check with the facility and secure permission from VITAL activity director. We will further advise you on the proper acknowledgment of the facility.

Please note that the VITAL Team may use images/ data from your facility visits/ events/ experiments for our program reports/ marketing/ grant proposals/and reviews. If you do not want any images/data to be used for these purposes by VITAL program, please notify the team in advances and in writing.

If you cite or display any Content, or reference our organization, in any format, written or otherwise, including print or web publications, presentations, websites, other online applications such as blogs, or other works, you must follow these Citation Guidelines.

If you are using the data from STEM Imaging Exploration Center, our VITAL program and its team will not be responsible for any change/edits in the images/ data done by the users. It is solely user’s responsibility to retain and save unprocessed data and image files. 

Note: Before using the VITAL Facility/Equipment all user MUST sign the Facility/Equipment Usage and Acknowledgment Policy form. This form is available in facility.