McAuliffe Center installs new simulation lab

By Sarah Daponde

Editorial Staff

The Christa McAuliffe Center finished installation of The McAuliffe Simulation Lab, funded by a federal grant of $1 million, on Oct. 22.

President Nancy Niemi said the McAuliffe Simulation Lab is another unique aspect of Framingham State’s campus, which will allow “people of all ages to experience more completely what it might be like to do something that is currently not possible - like travel to Mars, for example.”

Niemi said,“The McAuliffe Center is a truly important resource for science learning that is available to everyone. FSU’s ability to offer McAuliffe’s programs and services to the entire community is the embodiment of public good, which is the heart of our educational mission.”

She said the McAuliffe Simulation Lab will also allow students to explore different opportunities and discover impacts of possible experiments without needing the resources to carry them out.

Irene Porro, director of The McAuliffe Center, said she hopes the new installment “becomes a space for creative minds to come together and create something new.”

The McAuliffe Simulation Lab consists of two new rooms called Virtual Reality (VR) CAVEs. The grant funded the installation of projectors and computers in these new rooms, according to Porro.

CAVE is an acronym for Cave Automatic Virtual Environment. 

“The projection is on the walls and you immerse yourself with the people you are with,” added Porro. The rooms can be used to create space mission simulations, educate people on new environments they have never been in before, and conduct job training.

“CAVE rooms are a different way to do VR. … You are actually able to experience VR as a group of people in the same physical space,” said Porro.

The installation began over the summer and continued throughout the fall. Porro said a software is being developed to properly complement the rooms and the spaces should be completely finished in January or February.

This software will simulate going on a mission into space, which can be used by visiting schools.

“Space travel experience is now a virtual reality experience,” she added.

Porro said she hopes the McAuliffe Simulation Lab fosters more community engagement from local schools, employers, and FSU students and faculty.

She said elementary, middle, and high schools from around the area visit The McAuliffe Center almost daily.

Last year, Porro said The McAuliffe Center served approximately 12,000 students.

The VR CAVE on the ground floor of the Center will be open to anyone, including FSU students, local schools, and other visitors. The CAVE on the second floor will only be available for FSU students, she said.

The CAVE on the second floor will also be available to FSU faculty to hold classes in which students can learn in a more “immersive way,” according to Porro. 

Collaborations with local employers will allow the space to be utilized for job training as well. Porro referenced dangerous jobs, such as drilling.

“People can be trained in a safe, much less expensive way,” she added.

The McAuliffe Center underwent an $8 million renovation and was reopened to the public on Jan. 27, 2024. 

Framingham State received $5 million of the needed funds from the Massachusetts State Legislature as Fiscal Year 2022 supplemental funding, which was allotted for The McAuliffe Center’s renovations, according to an article published in The Gatepost on Feb. 2, 2024.

Another $2 million in supplemental funding from FY23 was allotted to The McAuliffe Center as well as an additional $500,000 from the Massachusetts Skills Grant Program and $300,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council Facilities Program, according to the article.

At the time of this renovation, Porro said there was not enough funding for the McAuliffe Simulation Lab and this project was put on hold.

A year later, Porro said The McAuliffe Center received one of the last federal appropriation funds before federal funding was cut nationwide.

“The government decides, ‘Yes, we want to support your program,’ and they figure out which agency should provide your funding,” said Porro. NASA was chosen to fund The McAuliffe Center.

Porro said Framingham State is one of the first universities to feature this technology.

Sophomore Finley Hogan said she had a “really good” experience at The McAuliffe Center and, in particular, “thoroughly enjoyed” the Planetarium.

“Space is honestly just one of my passions and [The McAuliffe Center] was a big pulling point when I applied to Framingham State,” added Hogan.

Sophomore Ava Sheehan said she attended The McAuliffe Center’s “Spooky Skies” showing at the Planetarium on Oct. 28.

She said once The McAuliffe Simulation Lab is fully operational, she will likely visit.

Junior Autumn Bailey said she believes it is important to learn about Framingham State alumni like Christa McAuliffe.

Sophomore Angel Marin-Caceres grew up in Framingham and went to The McAuliffe Center on a field trip in elementary school. She said the Planetarium show they saw was informational and interesting.

“Also, just the fact that you can do something like that for fun [at Framingham State] is pretty interesting,” she added.

Sophomore Io Philips said when they committed to Framingham State, they were excited to use the Planetarium at The McAuliffe Center.

“Even though I’m an art major, I’m a big space nerd,” added Philips.

Junior Shelbie Greenaway said she is excited to use the new McAuliffe Simulation Lab.

She said, “As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, so if I can do a simulated version of a trip to Mars, sign me up!”