Information, Technology, and Consulting is thrilled to announce that Kala Goyal ’20 has been named the Neukom/ITC XR Fellow for 2020. For the next year, they will work with faculty, staff, and students in ITC’s Data Experiences and Visualizations (DEV) Studio to build virtual reality projects enhancing research and teaching across Dartmouth College.
Goyal is a computer science major whose passion for virtual reality has contributed to the medium’s growing impact on Dartmouth scholarship. In addition to taking on a key role in the DEV Studio’s early development, Goyal has spent time as a teaching assistant for VR-related courses in the Computer Science department and worked on multiple projects at the DALI Lab. As part of the XR Fellowship, they will continue to help shape VR’s future at Dartmouth and advance their own research on the intersections of art and technology.
According to Mitch Davis, Dartmouth VP/Chief Information Officer, “The ITC/Neukom post-baccalaureate position reflects the deep commitment ITC has in the field of AR/VR and to developing the DEV Studio at Dartmouth. This role will help ITC engage with faculty on unique AR/VR applications in research and teaching.”
DEV Studio Director John Bell says that ITC’s focus on education was one of the motivations behind creating a fellowship for a recent Dartmouth graduate. “It’s critical to understand how students are going to relate to new technologies used in classes. We can’t just roll out VR in a class without knowing that it’s going to add to the student experience rather than being a distraction. In Kala, we’re adding not just a talented 3D modeler and developer, but also someone who has demonstrated they can thoughtfully represent student interests when we’re discussing building projects that will become part of their Dartmouth experience.”
The DEV Studio is grateful to ITC and the Neukom Institute for Computational Science for their sponsorship of the XR Fellowship.
About the Neukom/ITC XR Fellowship
The Research, Teaching and Learning group in Information, Technology and Consulting (RTL@ITC) and the Neukom Institute have created an opportunity for recent Dartmouth graduates to build development experience with virtual and augmented reality. The XR Fellow will spend one year working in the Data Experiences and Visualizations Studio, helping develop faculty research and teaching projects, supporting student use of the Studio’s equipment, and exploring the possibilities created by technology that mixes the physical world with the virtual. The XR Fellowship includes benefits, professional development, and access to a wide variety of cutting-edge DEV Studio equipment.
