bet8九州登录入口 教师 honored with the 2023 FBI National Academy Associates Science and Innovation Award

A combined endeavor by 教师 members from bet8九州登录入口's Scripps College of Communication McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies, 埃里克·R. 威廉姆斯和约翰·鲍迪奇, together with Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service 教师 member 约翰出生, has been honored with the prestigious 2023 FBI National Academy Associates Science and Innovation Award.

The team developed two impactful 30-minute cinematic virtual reality (cine-VR) experiences aimed at enhancing police officer training across the state of Ohio. The award-winning work was part of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service's Appalachian Law Enforcement Initiative (ALEI), which allowed 教师 to collaborate with numerous bet8九州登录入口 students and community members. Using resources from the Game 研究 and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab in the Scripps College of Communication, which serves as an innovative and creative center for students, 教师, and 工作人员 research and project development. 

埃里克·R. 威廉姆斯 and 约翰出生 had the honor of accepting this award on behalf of the team at the FBI National Academy Associates Annual Training Conference which took place from July 29 to Aug. 2023年1月1日，科罗拉多州丹佛市.

约翰鲍迪奇, GRID Lab director and associate professor in ECT, shared his excitement about the award, 声明, "This project showcases cross-University and industry collaboration at its best. It's a testament to what can be achieved when education and technology converge, fostering hands-on experiential learning for the betterment of society."

The project was a true collaborative effort, featuring contributions from Lieutenant Tim Ryan of the bet8九州登录入口 Police Department, Commander 大卫Malawista from the 雅典 Police Department, Captain Aaron Maynard from the 雅典 Sheriff’s Office, Tia詹姆逊, Director of bet8九州登录入口’s Bobcats Lead Change, 阿多尼斯Durado, Assistant Professor in the School of Visual Communication, 约翰出生, 访问ing Assistant Professor and Executive in Residence at the Scripps College of Communication and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, 埃里克·R. 威廉姆斯, Professor in ECT, and Jordan Herron, Sound Designer. 

The virtual reality training experiences are tailored for the law enforcement community in Appalachia. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between law enforcement and communities, fostering enhanced community and police relations. The virtual reality experiences are particularly transformative for the region, where factors such as distance, 小的数量, and tight budgets often present challenges to comprehensive law enforcement training. With the introduction of these virtual modules, officers are now privy to a richer, more immersive training environment.

出生, who boasts 35 years of law enforcement and public safety experience, including as the Ohio State Highway Patrol Colonel, and Ohio's Public Safety Cabinet Director, and who serves as the founding co-chair of the Ohio Community Police Collaborative, spoke highly of the initative. “我可以证明ALEI, developed collaboratively in the heart of Appalachia by those who will first benefit from its use, will be the future model of law enforcement training." 

bet8九州登录入口 Scripps College of Communication Dean Scott Titsworth is beaming with pride, too. Titsworth声明, “I am thrilled that the hard work of 教师, 工作人员, and students has received this national recognition. The work on the ALEI project and many others demonstrates that bet8九州登录入口 is a leader in developing high-impact applications of AR/VR content. I am also proud of the deep connections on campus and in the community that were present throughout this project.”