Virtual Worlds May Be the Future Setting of Scientific Collaboration
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - 11:56
in Mathematics & Economics
(PhysOrg.com) -- Normally, virtual worlds are the setting of many online games and entertainment applications, but now they`re becoming a place for scientific collaboration and outreach, as well. A team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology, Princeton, Drexel University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have formed the first professional scientific organization based entirely in virtual worlds. Called the Meta Institute for Computational Astrophysics (MICA), the organization conducts professional seminars and popular lectures, among other events, for its growing membership.