The UQ VisLab recently hosted filming for a new UQ corporate video featuring Professor Tamara Davis, an astrophysicist whose research explores dark energy and the accelerating expansion of the Universe. The production brought scientific expertise and immersive visualisation together, showcasing a platform with applications in research communication, teaching and engagement across the University.
The VisLab team deployed visual assets for its 360-degree screen, creating an immersive setting for the filming. Professor Davis was recorded engaging with the displayed content, placing the researcher within the visual environment. This contribution combined content development with the use of the laboratory as a production space, giving the sequence a distinctive spatial character.
Based in UQ’s School of Mathematics and Physics, the astrophysicist investigates fundamental questions about the Universe and its expansion. Presenting this work through immersive imagery offers a visual entry point into a complex field. It also highlights how research communication can invite audiences to consider the questions, observations and ideas that drive scientific discovery.
The production points to teaching opportunities across UQ. Adaptable 360-degree content could support research-informed learning, allowing students to explore spatial relationships, compare visual representations and discuss complex ideas together. Based within the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, the VisLab offers a setting where educators across disciplines can connect specialist expertise with immersive learning design and shared exploration.
The VisLab thanks Professor Davis, Ani Parry, Video Production Officer, and UQ’s Office of Marketing and Communication for their contributions to the filming. The session demonstrates how researchers and creative teams can work together to communicate the University’s expertise. It also opens opportunities to explore how the same combination of visual content, physical space and collaboration could enrich teaching and bring university research to wider audiences.
