Fairfield University selected by Google to take part in launch of College Expeditions program | Press Releases

Media Contact: Teddy DeRosa, tderosa@fairfield.edu , 203-254-4000 ext. 2118

The groundbreaking technology from Google creates a virtual world for students to explore campuses.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (January 28, 2016) — Google, with the help of First Lady Michelle Obama, has announced their new education initiative, Google Expeditions, a virtual reality platform built for the classroom. Google project managers worked with teachers and content partners from around the world to create more than 100 engaging journeys - making it easy to immerse students in entirely new experiences.

“We're working with colleges and universities around the world to create a collection of college Expeditions that will allow students to tour campuses and get an immersive feel for the environment, from anywhere,” said Jennifer Miller, Google project manager. “Expedition trips are collections of virtual reality panoramas -- 360° photo spheres, 3D images, ambient sounds -- annotated with details, points of interest, and questions that make them easy to integrate into curriculum already used in schools.”

In late 2015, the Google Expedition team visited the Fairfield University campus to create the personalized Fairfield Expedition. Using Google’s GoPro Jump Rig—a camera rig consisting of 16 camera modules in a circular array—they captured 360˚ panoramic scenes across campus. The locations include classrooms, nursing and science labs, athletic facilities, the Quad, Bellarmine Hall, the University media center, and the Fairfield beach are, among others.

“The opportunity to work with Google and showcase the many facets of our campus is exciting,” said Jennifer Anderson, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Fairfield. “We share their dedication to providing the highest quality education through cutting edge technology, and look forward to see how this venture can help shape the future of higher education."

For more information, please visit www.google.com/edu/expeditions or Google’s blog .

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Vol. 48, No. 85

Fairfield University is a Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.