By Tianlei (Ruby) Qiu, Class of 2024
The Center for the Study of Contemporary China (CSCC) is delighted to announce a significant milestone achieved by its dedicated team led by Associate Professor John S. Ji. The research project, supported by the CSCC and spearheaded by Dr. Ji, has reached a pinnacle with the publication of their paper in the esteemed journal PLOS One, a peer-reviewed open access mega journal published by the Public Library of Science since 2006. The journal covers primary research from any discipline within science and medicine.
The research was originated from a CSCC-sponsored project in 2021. The paper, titled “Biophilic classroom environments on stress and cognitive performance: A randomized crossover study in virtual reality (VR)” represents a culmination of rigorous academic inquiry and a testament to the collaborative efforts of the DKU team. The groundbreaking research, conducted in collaboration with Tsinghua University’s Vanke School of Public Health, explores the potential impact of the emerging Metaverse on human health, focusing on the biophilia hypothesis and the benefits of biophilic design.
Using virtual reality (VR), the team designed five different classroom scenes with biophilic elements and turbidity, investigating their effects on stress levels and cognitive functions in 30 young adults. While physiological indicators showed no significant changes, the study revealed promising outcomes. Despite no substantial shifts in stress reactions or cognitive functions, the addition of biophilic elements in the Metaverse demonstrated significantly decreased perceived stress levels and increased connections with nature.
Dr. Ji expressed his pride in the accomplishments of the DKU undergraduate students involved in the project. “Our DKU students started from scratch, undertaking a randomized cross-over study over the Innovation Building,” he remarked. “This achievement is a testament to their dedication and the support provided by CSCC and Dr. Keping Wu.”
The publication of this research is particularly noteworthy as it aligns with the ongoing commitment of DKU and CSCC to contribute valuable insights to the global academic community. The paper is now accessible online.
Dr. Baozhen M. Luo-Hermanson, Co-Director of CSCC, commended the team’s dedication and expressed her appreciation for the fruitful collaboration. “Keping’s care and leadership were essential in supporting scholarship like yours, especially during the COVID Pandemic,” she noted. “It is so lovely to see the ‘seeds’ you all planted then yielding fruition now.”
The CSCC encourages everyone to celebrate this accomplishment and looks forward to more groundbreaking research from the DKU community.
Congratulations to the entire team for this outstanding achievement!
