One moment you’re on Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus. The next, you’re transported into the world of “The Arabian Nights”, following Princess Parizade on her search to find three magical wonders.
Inside the Cube at the Virginia Tech Center for the Arts, centuries-old storytelling traditions rooted in Arabian, Persian, and Indian cultures will come to life through an immersive experience that blends cultural heritage with generative artificial intelligence, digital storytelling, and interactive projections.
“Unlike a movie, the Cube has no single screen to face. This is digital storytelling designed for a space: The story is projected across three walls and the floor, so it surrounds you, and spatial sound places voices, music, and ambient detail around the room,” said Eiman Elgewely, assistant professor of interior design and project lead.
The installation will be one of more than 50 free, interactive exhibits featured during the Virginia Tech Science Festival on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Center for the Arts and Newman Library.
Now in its 13th year, the festival showcases the university’s science education and research programs and draws thousands of visitors from across Virginia, including families, elementary students on field trips, and Virginia Tech students. Attendees can participate in hands-on activities, watch engaging presentations, and speak directly with the scientists behind the exhibits.
“The idea is to get kids on campus and to understand that campus is accessible and exciting,” said Phyllis Newbill, festival chair and associate director of youth and community education with Virginia Tech’s Center for Educational Networks and Impacts. “We want the community to be able to share in how we know how brains work, what’s happening with robots and AI, how we learn about Earth’s history, how we understand living organisms, and how we do science.”