Bringing knowledge to life: VR infotainment as an educational tool for museums

In the context of exhibitions, virtual reality is often regarded as an expensive gimmick or a panacea. In this talk, we present a third perspective: that of day-to-day operations.

This is based on our own space and prehistory exhibition, where science can be experienced as VR infotainment. Twelve stations operate simultaneously there, every day as part of our regular programme. Through our films Apollo 15 VR, Eine Reise durch das Sonnensystem, Mission Space Shuttle and Im Herzen des Jura, we demonstrate how researched content, scene design and physical exhibition elements interlock.

The focus is on practical application. Who is the target audience? How do school groups, families and corporate groups react? What implications does a VR station have for staffing, space and operations, and how can visitor flows be planned? We’ll share our practical experience and discuss our long-standing collaboration with the Hugo Junkers Museum in Dessau, where our films are a permanent fixture.

The talk is aimed at museums, science centres, exhibition venues and educational programmes. It provides a realistic assessment of what immersive formats can achieve and which initial steps are worth taking before making an investment.