The Virtual Reality-application of MiCRop was exhibited today at the Expeditie NEXT Science Fair in Zutphen to resounding success! While the VR-game is still in development by MiCRop and the visualisation lab, it was still considered extremely popular among the ca. 6000 children attending the fair. In fact, it was almost too popular; the demand was far greater than the number of VR headsets could handle, leading to long waiting lines of up to 1.5 hours of waiting time. In the end, the VR-game was played by at least 107 children and was predominantly well-received!

It is not the first time MiCRop was present at the Expeditie NEXT Science Fair. In last year's edition in Middelburg, the VR application was also exhibited by two students with one headset in active use. This year, three bachelor students (Renske Rienstra, Devon Feberwee, and Yoeri Visser) were present under supervision of Julian to represent MiCRop. This lineup allowed for two VR headsets to be in active use simultaneously. This turned out necessary as well, since the VR headsets were continuously occupied from start to end (11am to 5pm) as per their incredible popularity. "While it was stifingly hot in our tent and incredibly busy, the kids had fun and that's all that matters", said Julian.

Expeditie NEXT is an annual science fair aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 14 years old. Various institutions can set up activities here to introduce their scientific field to the next generation. It is part of the National Science Agenda, an NWO programme commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The National Science Agenda finances and conducts scientific research, but also aims to spread science among the public. While Expeditie NEXT is mainly aimed at children, the National Science Agenda is also active on platforms for older people such as Lowlands Festival.

Next year's edition of Expeditie NEXT will be held in Roermond and we hope to be present again when that time comes.