From: Mike Bevan Subject: CONF: VRET'97 Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 20:35:41 +0000 This is to let you know about 'Virtual Reality in Education & Training '97', a major new international conference and trade show which will take place on the Loughborough University campus in the UK, 23-25 June 1997. The event is a collaboration between VR NEWS and Loughborough University - specifically Prof. Roy Kalawsky's Advanced VR Research Centre in the Department of Human Sciences. As many of you will know, Roy was formerly head of the Advanced Cockpit R&D group at British Aerospace Military Aircraft Division, and is the author of 'The Science and Engineering of Virtual Reality and Virtual Environments'. We're currently assembling the program, and I would be interested to hear from anyone who feels they have a contribution to make. The event will include three one-day conferences, covering VR in Secondary Education, VR in Higher Education, and VR in Commercial and Industrial Training. There will also be workshops, a substantial two day trade show, and demonstrations of the facilities of the Advanced VR Research Centre. VRET'97 will be the first event of its kind in the world, and I'm very pleased to report that Prof. Veronica Pantelidis, Co-Director of the Virtual Reality and Education Laboratory at the University of East Carolina, has agreed to be actively involved in its planning and execution. Prof. Pantelidis is widely regarded as the leading academic researcher in this field. The 'VR in Higher Education' stream is being sponsored by the UK agency AGOCG (Advisory Group on Computer Graphics). Early indications are that sponsorship will also be available to support a subsidised registration fee for the 'VR in Secondary Education' stream. We are in discussion with other prospective sponsors for the 'VR in Commercial and Industrial Training' conference and workshops. That's about it for now. I expect to have the program wrapped up by early March, so now is a good time for prospective participants to get in touch. Mike Bevan Publisher/Editor - VR NEWS