Aurum VR: An Alchemy Laboratory

A Collaboration between Rossell Hope Robbins Library and Mary Ann Mavrinac Studio X

Travel back to medieval times and learn how to turn base metals into gold and unlock the power of the philosopher’s stone. Featuring authentic 17th-century texts from the Robbins Library’s collection—brought to life with stunning visuals and realistic simulations—Aurum (Latin for gold) will make you feel like a true alchemist as you mix potions and discover the secrets of this ancient craft.

Background

History of Alchemy

Alchemy has existed across various cultures and regions throughout history. Its goal is to understand the science of natural substances, their changes, and their transformations. While you might be picturing someone turning base metals into gold or creating some kind of healing potion, many alchemical texts are linked to spiritual and philosophical enlightenment.

Western alchemy originated with a close relationship between mysticism and metallurgy in ancient Egypt around 4,000 years ago. Everything we know of Egyptian alchemy is in the writings of ancient Greek philosophers—most of whose writings only survived in Islamic translations.

In China, alchemy was primarily connected to medicine. Alchemy was known as waidan (external alchemy) and neidan (internal alchemy). Waidan was focused on creating elixirs of immortality and using minerals and metals to treat diseases, while neidan was used for spiritual transformation and the cultivation of the inner self.

In India, alchemy was known as rasayāna, which literally means “the path of the juice” or “the path of essence.” Rasayāna was associated with a system of medicine that used mercury as a core element of its operations, compounds, and medicines. Rasayāna aimed to heal people who were too sick to recover and to increase people’s life spans.

In the Islamic world alchemy (ilm al-kimiya) flourished during the Islamic Golden Age. Heavily influenced by Greek and Egyptian alchemy (most of what we know of earlier traditions is through Islamic translations and commentaries), Islamic alchemists were responsible for major discoveries that furthered alchemy and other sciences, including hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids, potash, soda, and the technique of distillation. They also made significant advancements in the fields of chemistry, pharmacology, and metallurgy.

The alchemy that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages was heavily indebted to the Islamic tradition, through which European alchemists encountered the works of ancient Greek and Egyptian alchemy. Alchemy was deeply tied to religion and philosophy, and many influential alchemists were also priests, monks, or friars. By the end of the Middle Ages, however, alchemy was more associated with occult practices. In the 16th and 17th centuries, alchemy was studied alongside magic, medicine, and what we now think of as modern science, particularly chemistry. Many scientists such as Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, and Tycho Brahe were also alchemists. While the pursuit of transmutation and the creation of an elixir of life were eventually abandoned, alchemy played a significant role in the development of modern science.

Robbins Library Manuscript

This manuscript is a personal collection of alchemical texts from 17th-century Italy, containing more than a dozen recipes, many of which involve the creation of the philosopher’s stone.

Our research team has transcribed and translated the texts from the manuscript, which were originally written in both Latin and Italian. These texts include some of the most popular alchemical treatises from the late Middle Ages and early modern periods.

While the original owner of the manuscript remains unknown, it’s highly likely that the owner was an alchemist who gathered materials from their own experiments and their colleagues.

Through Aurum VR, you can step into the shoes of an alchemist and explore the recipes found in the alchemical miscellany manuscript, gradually unraveling the secrets of the ancient craft.

Contributors

Management Team

Modeling Team

Coding Team

Story Team

Past Contributors

Mission

We aim to expand awareness of and access to our library’s diverse collections through transformative and innovative methods.

PROJECT GOALS

  • Reimagine our library’s collections. Imagine if you were able to interact with a text in which you could tap on a word to define it, engage with complex visualizations to illustrate concepts, recreate the recipes from a first-person perspective.
  • De-westernize the perception of alchemy and showcase its rich global history and relevance to a contemporary audience.
  • Transform teaching and learning. Instead of reading about alchemy and imagining the laboratories, tools, recipes, and experiments, what if you could carry out the experiments yourself within a medieval laboratory setting? How would mixing the ingredients and handling the tools impact your understanding of this history?
  • Embrace interdisciplinary collaboration. This project brings together history, science, art, and technology to create something remarkable.
  • Foster hands-on, skill-based, project-based learning opportunities. Students learn XR software and hardware, collaborate in teams, conduct research in a meaningful way.

Values

  • We are committed to showcasing the diverse and global history of alchemical practices and promoting a more inclusive and expansive view of history.
  • We strive to make our VR alchemist laboratory experience accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability, and are dedicated to creating a comfortable and enriching environment for all.
  • We seek to engage participants in an immersive and interactive learning experience, drawing on the rich resources of the Robbins Library.
  • We aim to leverage cutting-edge technology and modern design practices to bring the ancient art of alchemy to life in a new and exciting way.
  • We value the contributions of multiple stakeholders, including the Robbins Library and user feedback, to create a rich and authentic experience.
  • The project is dedicated to presenting a nuanced and global representation of alchemy, drawing on historical research and expert knowledge to ensure that the experience is based in diverse historical practices while taking creative and magical liberties to enrich storytelling.

About the project

story

You are Kiana, a career alchemist in a small town. By day, you run a sufficiently successful business fulfilling the townsfolk’s more mundane orders—dyes and rat poisons—but you can’t help wondering if, with enough practice, you might be able to uncover the secret of the famed philosopher’s stone in the score of alchemical texts your father left to you.

adventures

  • Explore 2 floors of the alchemist’s tower and the equipment available in your journey to master the craft.
  • Follow the step-by-step recipe to create a purple dye potion.
  • Experiment with heating and mixing potions available in your lab.

access features

TELEPORT
  • A locomotion technique which provides users with instantaneous transport from one location to another without having to move physically
  • Reduces the risk of inducing motion sickness, a common issue for VR applications
  • Provides an additional layer of comfort for players who may feel disoriented or overwhelmed in large virtual spaces
  • Creates navigation options for wheelchair users or those who may have difficulty with precise or rapid movements, such as those with fine motor skill impairments
SNAP TURN
  • Allows users to change their viewpoint without physically turning their body. This can be helpful for wheelchair users, those with mobility aids, or those who may have difficulty with sustained physical movements, such as chronic pain or fatigue
  • Reduces the risk of motion sickness for users who experience discomfort when turning in VR
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
  • Allows users to adjust the environment to their height, including seated modes
FORCE GRAB
  • Allows users to teleport an object to their location to “grab” it. This can be helpful for users who may have difficulty with fine motor control or precise movements
  • Reduces the risk of motion sickness or discomfort some users experience when using traditional grab methods in VR games
SETTINGS MENU
  • Provides users with an easy way to adjust game settings and access through features such as the ability to adjust the height, choosing skin color, and choosing between smooth and snap turns at any point of the game

external resources used

HurricaneVR – Physics-based interaction toolkit package for Unity development

Timeline

Fall 2021
  • Collaborative work between Studio X and the Robbins Library to create a shared vision for the project
  • Digitization of the Alchemical miscellany manuscript by Lisa Wright in the Digital Scholarship Digitization Lab
  • Research conducted on alchemical practices and notable alchemical achievements
  • Contextual documentation and project management systems and tools established
  • World building activities, such as a Dungeon and Dragons night
Spring 2022
  • Training on project tools (e.g., Unity and Blender)
  • Readings and discussion on a variety of topics, including VR and accessibility, nonwestern histories of alchemy, gaming and gender, etc.
  • World building activities, such as sketching, creative writing, and discussion
  • 3D models with materials created by each student of alchemical equipment in Blender and imported into Unity
  • Scene creation in Unity and locomotion and grabbables implemented
  • Implementation of access features and settings menu in Unity
Fall 2022
Demo of Aurum VR for Frameless 2022
Spring 2023
  • Sub-team leads established
  • Animation of selected models
  • Liquid simulation implementation
  • Full step-by-step recipe implementation
  • 3D modeling and texturing for alchemical ingredients
  • Translation of 5 recipes from Robbins Library manuscripts
  • Design and implementation of user interface and welcome screen in Unity
  • Research and planning on VR accessibility for neurodivergent users

Vision

The current project offers an immersive and engaging introduction to the fascinating world of alchemy. However, we have ambitious plans to expand and enhance the experience even further in the coming semesters.

  • Integrate nine more alchemical recipes, including the creation of gold, pearls, and the elusive philosopher’s stone. These additions will provide users with an even more comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of alchemy and allow them to experiment with a wider range of materials and techniques.
  • Expand the overarching story of the game and weaving in more historical context.
  • Add textured 3D models of recipe ingredients, equipment, and space decorum, making the experience even more immersive and engaging for users.
  • Conduct user testing, including collaborating with the Office of Disabilities to ensure accessibility for all users.

Through these enhancements, we aim to create a comprehensive and inclusive experience. We are excited to embark on the next phase of Aurum VR and look forward to sharing our progress with you.

Final Notes

We will provide updates as we continue to expand and refine our immersive experience, but don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any feedback or suggestions! If you’re eager to try the experience for yourself, come visit us at Studio X on the first floor of Carlson Library, where our team will be happy to guide you through the alchemical adventure of a lifetime.

Studio X Student Showcase

Lightning talks on XR student research

Friday, April 28th from 2 to 4pm
Register: bit.ly/StudioXStudentShowcase

Studio X is proud to present a series of lightning talks and cutting-edge extended reality work and projects from students across the University.

of a person wearing a VR headset with overlaying text that reads, "4/28 @2pm Student Showcase."

Student presenters will share their experiences, insights, and the outcomes of their work. There will be time after the presentations for a Q&A session and demonstrations. Some of the demonstration to look forward to include Phobigone, a product that allows users to confront their fears in a safe virtual environment; Studio X: The Game, created by Karp Library Fellow Liam O’Leary; and Aurum VR, a virtual alchemical laboratory created in collaboration with the Robbins Library.

The event is open to all. Light refreshments will be provided. We hope you choose to join us for an afternoon of inspiration, innovation, and collaboration, as we celebrate the achievements of our talented students.

Intro to XR

person in a VR headset with overlaying text that says, "Intro to XR"

AR? VR? MR? What now? Want to learn more about immersive technologies or extended reality (XR) but don’t know where to start? This workshop will demystify these technologies, explain their history, and demonstrate use cases across disciplines all while showing you the newest applications in a fun-hands-on experience for any level of expertise!

person in a VR headset with overlaying text that says, "Intro to XR"

Join Studio X, UR’s hub for immersive technologies, and learn more about the digital world of extended reality (XR). All levels welcome. No experience necessary!

Instructor: Waleed Nadeem
Where: Studio X, Carlson Library First Floor
When: Wednesday, April 12th from 3:30 to 5pm
Register: bit.ly/Intro2XR412

Voices of XR: QuHarrison Terry

speaker QuHarrison Terry.

The Metaverse Handbook

speaker QuHarrison Terry.

QuHarrison Terry is the featured speaker for Studio X’s 2023 reading group on the metaverse. He is a co-author of this year’s text, The Metaverse Handbook. He is a growth marketer at Mark Cuban Companies, a Dallas, Texas venture capital firm, where he advises and assists portfolio companies with their marketing strategies and objectives. Previously, he led marketing at Redox, focusing on lead acquisition, new user experience, events, and content marketing. QuHarrison has been featured on CNN, Harvard Business Review, WIRED, Forbes and is the co-host of CNBC’s Primetime Series – No Retreat: Business Bootcamp. As a speaker and moderator QuHarrison has presented at CES, TEDx, Techsylvania in Romania, Persol Holdings in Tokyo, SXSW in Austin, TX, and more. QuHarrison is a 4x recipient of Linkedin’s top voices in Technology award.

His past work includes:

  • Author of The Metaverse Handbook – a can’t-miss guide to participating in the most promising new technology since the advent of the web
  • Co-Host of CNBC’s Primetime Series – No Retreat: Business Bootcamp 
  • Author of The NFT Handbook – a detailed guide on how to create, sell and buy non-fungible tokens without the need for a technical background
  • Global Spokesman for BMW – a German automotive company that produces luxury vehicles and motorcycles
  • Co-founder of Inevitable/Human – the futuristic media platform and community for future thinkers
  • Co-founder of 23VIVI – the world’s first digital art marketplace powered by the blockchain
  • Head of Marketing for Redox – an API based healthcare data exchange platform
  • Founder of VNM USA – an advertising agency specializing in marketing to millennials

QuHarrison attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Where: Zoom
When: Friday, 4/7/23 from noon – 1pm EDT
Register: bit.ly/VoicesXRQuHarrison

The Voices of XR speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science, Technology, and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of Rochester (#1922591).


a person wearing a hijab and a virtual reality headset reaching out to an orb with text that reads, "Voices of XR."

Voices of XR is a Studio X speaker series. Speakers are scholars, artists, and extended reality professionals who discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. All talks are free and open to the general public.

Voices of XR: Anurag Kumar

speaker Anurag Kumar.

Reference Free Learning for Speech Enhancement and Speech Assessment

speaker Anurag Kumar.

Anurag Kumar is a research scientist and technical research lead at Meta Reality Labs Research. His primary research interests are in machine learning for audio and speech processing and audio-visual learning. 

Kumar’s talk will be centered on improving the perceptual quality and intelligibility of speech signals, which is critical for improving communications in real and virtual world whether someone has normal hearing or some form of hearing impairment. He will present an outline of some of his recent research on both methods to enhance degraded speech as well as methods for speech assessment, and he will go in depth on his recent works on unsupervised and self-supervised approaches for speech enhancement and how speech signals from the wild—for which target signals are not available—and might be used for enhancement. 


Kumar has been recipient of several awards and recognition including Best Paper Finalist at CVPR 2022 and NCC 2014, finalist in Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship 2017, winner of Samsung Innovation Awards 2012, and travel grants from IEEE SPS and EURASIP.

Where: Hybrid in Studio X and on Zoom
When: Monday, 3/27/23 from 10:25 to 11:40am EDT
Register: bit.ly/VoicesXRAnuragKumar

Recording

The Voices of XR speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science, Technology, and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of Rochester (#1922591).


a person wearing a hijab and a virtual reality headset reaching out to an orb with text that reads, "Voices of XR."

Voices of XR is a Studio X speaker series. Speakers are scholars, artists, and extended reality professionals who discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. All talks are free and open to the general public.

Voices of XR: Lieutenant Colonel Stephanie Raffo

speaker lieutenant colonel Stephanie Raffo.

Innovation and Emerging Technologies at Space Force

speaker lieutenant colonel Stephanie Raffo standing in front of an American flag.

Lieutenant Colonel Stephanie I. Raffo is currently the Director of Innovation at the Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. Colonel Raffo leads the Innovation Directorate, delivering software and hardware solutions for Space Force operational missions and fostering the innovative culture across the Command. Prior to her current assignment, Colonel Raffo led a 6-member team as an Operations Officers in technical analysis and development of weapon systems and authored well over 100 technical reports at the Munitions Directorate, Eglin Air Force Base, FL. She fostered vital inter- and intra-base agency cooperation for munitions research and development. At Schriever Air Force Base, Colonel Raffo led a fourteen-satellite constellation valued at over $3.5 billion in support of 200,000 users. She transformed the SATCOM tactics process, eliminated wing operations redundancies, and led the group’s 38-member division through Air Force Space Command’s largest evaluation program. Additionally, Colonel Raffo challenged 234 cadet candidates in academics and the military profession at the USAF Academy. She was an instrumental coach on leadership and character lessons for over 1,000 cadets. Moreover, Colonel Raffo was an Air University Fellow stimulating the professional growth and development of 98 captains, defense civilians and international officers through the Air Force’s $22.8M resident company grade officer course. Finally, Colonel Raffo led the Commander’s Action Group and the Executive Staff for the Air Reserve Personnel Center Commander, ensuring force support to 1.3 million Air Force active duty, reserve, and guard personnel world-wide.

Where: Zoom
When: Wednesday, 3/22/23 from 10:25 to 11:40am EDT
Register: bit.ly/VoicesXRStephRaffo

Recorded

The Voices of XR speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science, Technology, and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of Rochester (#1922591).


a person wearing a hijab and a virtual reality headset reaching out to an orb with text that reads, "Voices of XR."

Voices of XR is a Studio X speaker series. Speakers are scholars, artists, and extended reality professionals who discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. All talks are free and open to the general public.

Voices of XR: Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez

speaker Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez.

VR & PTSD, Trauma, and Resilience

speaker Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez.

Dr. Suarez-Jimenez is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester. His research program in the ZVR lab aims to use virtual reality (VR), multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and machine learning to elucidate the psychological and neural signatures of PTSD and anxiety disorders. Particularly, to delineate the contextual aspect of threat and reward learning, discrimination, and monitoring. He is specifically interested in the case where an area within a larger environment becomes associated with threat, such as the area of a neighborhood where an assault or assaults took place, or location on a battlefield where explosions occurred. Patients with PTSD and anxiety disorders often show an overgeneralization or an exaggerated response to threat in larger contexts, even in environments predicting safety. With this research, he plans to identify new brain measures to develop sensitive, personalized, and precise diagnostic and treatment tools for psychology. He was recently awarded a $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to build upon work in the ZVR lab.

Suarez-Jimenez came to the University in January 2021. He is an active member of the Neuroscience Diversity Commission and has served as a mentor for the NEUROCITY program.

Where: Zoom
When: Monday, 3/20/23 from 10:25 to 11:40am EDT
Register: bit.ly/VoicesXRSuarezJimenez

Recording

The Voices of XR speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science, Technology, and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of Rochester (#1922591).


a person wearing a hijab and a virtual reality headset reaching out to an orb with text that reads, "Voices of XR."

Voices of XR is a Studio X speaker series. Speakers are scholars, artists, and extended reality professionals who discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. All talks are free and open to the general public.

Voices of XR: Damien McDuffie

speaker Damien McDuffie.

Black Terminus AR

speaker Damien McDuffie.

Damien is a creative technologist, digital archivist, and augmented reality (AR) artist and developer. He is the founder of Black Terminus AR, a camera app and no-code AR art studio in your pocket that helps bring archives to life. He aims to make AR easy for artists, brands, and museums. Black Terminus AR allows user to view and create 2D and 3D AR projects using just a phone or tablet. Its drag and drop interface empowers users to create AR content without learning a ton of code or buying a bunch of gadgets. It saves artists and curation teams time and money. Damien is also the co-founder of Wine & Bowties, a digital agency that connects world-class brands with underrepresented creatives to help develop campaigns, curate experiences, produce cultural content, and showcase artifacts. He enjoys creating culture, producing live experiences, and crafting stories for brands.

He is currently a fellow in Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Black Public Media’s visiting artists program.

Where: Zoom
When: Wednesday, 3/15/23 from 10:25 to 11:40am EDT
Register: bit.ly/VoicesXRDamienMcDuffie

Recording

The Voices of XR speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science, Technology, and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of Rochester (#1922591).


a person wearing a hijab and a virtual reality headset reaching out to an orb with text that reads, "Voices of XR."

Voices of XR is a Studio X speaker series. Speakers are scholars, artists, and extended reality professionals who discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. All talks are free and open to the general public.

Voices of XR: Ram Haddas

speaker Ram Haddas.

Orthopedics & XR

speaker Ram Haddas.

Dr. Haddas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics Center for Musculoskeletal Research at the University of Rochester. He specializes in the care of patients with musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. This very diverse group includes patients with musculoskeletal disorders (lower back and neck pain, scoliosis, and rotator cuff tendonitis), degenerative disease (disc herniation, neck pain, arthritis, rheumatologic, and osteoarthritis), neurological disorders (myelopathy, cerebral palsy, Parkinson, stroke, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and sport and tactical injury-related (ACL reconstruction, Achilles tendonitis, concussion, acute low back pain, shoulder instability, and overuse strains). His work tends to highlight the respective impacts of conservative and surgical interventions on a patient’s quality of life, pain levels, psychosocial factors, and function. In addition to his broad training in human biomechanics, he has also completed specialized training in human motion analysis, including Electromyography (EMG), Electroencephalogram (EEG), and wearable analyses, along with patient balance and posture. His research is capable of analyzing risk factors associated with neurological, neuromuscular, and structural disorders in order to develop more effective treatments. At the University of Rochester, he is developing world-class motion labs that leverage XR technologies for clinical service and research and development.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Clinical Biomechanics, a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, and an MBA in Operations Management.

Where: Zoom
When: Monday, 3/13/23 from 10:25 to 11:40am EDT
Register: bit.ly/VoicesXRRamHaddas

Recording

The Voices of XR speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science, Technology, and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of Rochester (#1922591).


a person wearing a hijab and a virtual reality headset reaching out to an orb with text that reads, "Voices of XR."

Voices of XR is a Studio X speaker series. Speakers are scholars, artists, and extended reality professionals who discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. All talks are free and open to the general public.

Voices of XR: Mike Murdoch

speaker Mike Murdoch standing with his face partially obstructed by glass with different colored circles.

Color Science & Augmented Reality

Michael J. Murdoch is an Associate Professor and Director of the Munsell Color Science Laboratory at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he teaches topics including colorimetry, psychophysics, lighting, and imaging. He leads a research project on color appearance in augmented reality (AR) funded by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and additionally conducts research on displays and temporally dynamic LED lighting. A recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, he spent Fall 2023 in Ghent, Belgium, for collaborative research with K.U. Leuven. Before coming to RIT, Mike worked for Kodak Research and Philips Research, developing color system models and human-centered designs for solid state lighting, LCD, and OLED display systems. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell, MS in Computer Science from RIT, and PhD in Human-Technology Interaction from Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands.

Michael’s website

Where: Zoom
When: Wednesday, 3/1/23 from 10:25 to 11:40am EST
Register: bit.ly/VoicesXRMikeMurdoch

Recording

The Voices of XR speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science, Technology, and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of Rochester (#1922591).


a person wearing a hijab and a virtual reality headset reaching out to an orb with text that reads, "Voices of XR."

Voices of XR is a Studio X speaker series. Speakers are scholars, artists, and extended reality professionals who discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. All talks are free and open to the general public.