Pharmatopia: Pharmacology in Second Life January 15, 2009

I’m a fan of the educational places of Second Life and Pharmatopia is one of the best examples how this virtual world could be used successfully in education. Robbo from BitingTheDust told me about the Pharmatopia project and asked the organizers to give me a guest account for a few days.

A key initiative is the development of an interactive virtual tabletting research and development laboratory, available online through Second Life, which gives students the opportunity to complete a range of activities that are available 24/7. Developed by the faculty, this new virtual teaching model is a shared practice model involving ten leading pharmacy schools from around the world.

Monash has purchased a closed-access island (not available to the public) in Second Life, a virtual world,  available to staff and students at participating universities.  The island has been christened ‘Pharmatopia’, and as the name suggests, aims to develop a pharmacy education ‘oasis’.  The cost of the island is low and access for students is free.

Dr. Ian Larson describes what the project is about:

And screenshots I made:

Further reading:

• Top 10: Virtual Medical Sites in Second Life!
• How and Why to use Second Life for Education?
• Scientific Events in Second Life?

• 23andMe in Second Life: LIVE
• Nature’s role in e-Science: Second Life conference LIVE
• Famous Scientific Bloggers in Second Life: LIVE
• Live Coverage: SciFoo lives on session about videos in science
• SciFoo lives on in Second Life: Web 2.0 and Medicine

• Live Blogging Today: First Medical Simulation in Second Life!
• Unique Medical Simulation in Second Life!
• Everything about Second Life and Medical Education
• New Educational Tools in Second Life
• Genetics in Second Life