Research Areas
- Immersive journalism and storytelling
- Human behavior and presence in virtual environments
- Ethical design in XR and spatial computing
- Immersive learning and simulation
- Audience engagement in interactive media
The Oregon Reality Lab at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication produces research at the intersection of immersive media, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), WebXR, spatial computing, and communication. Faculty and student scholars examine how immersive technologies influence storytelling, empathy, learning, user experience, and public understanding.
Below is a selection of peer-reviewed publications, conference papers, and applied research projects emerging from the lab.
Publications
Upcoming
- Pimentel, D., Burrell, S., Madanume, E., Lorenzo, S., Ahn, S., Gattis, L., Walker, L., Ahn, S. (Under Review). Within Arm’s Reach: Exploring The Effects Of Hand-Based Augmented Reality On Presence And Spatial Distance Estimation. Computers & Education: X Reality.
2025
- Fauville, G., Pimentel, D., & Woolsey, E. (2025). Ocean XR: A Deep Dive Into Extended Reality for Marine Education and Ocean Literacy. Ocean and Society, 2.
- Pimentel, D. (2025). Uses and Effects of AR- and VR-based Animal Embodiment: A Field Experiment at a Beach Music Festival. New Media & Society.
- Pimentel, D., Burrell, S., Madanume, E., Lorenzo, S., Ahn, S., Gattis, L., & Walker, L. (2025). Augmented philanthropy: A case study exploring the feasibility and impact of spatial computing in strategic communications. International Journal of Strategic Communication.
2024
- Pimentel, D., & Kalyanaraman, S. (2024). Proximally Engaged: How Cognitive Absorption Influences Responses to Immersive Narratives of Environmental Threats. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
2022
- Pimentel, D., & Kalyanaraman, S. (2022). The Effects of Embodying Wildlife in Virtual Reality on Conservation Behaviors. Scientific Reports.
- Pimentel, D. (2022). Saving Species in a Snap: On the Feasibility and Efficacy of Augmented Reality-based Wildlife Interactions for Biodiversity Conservation. Journal for Nature Conservation.
- Alexanian, S., Foxman, M., & Pimentel, D. (2022). Virtual reality and music's impact on psychological well-being. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 3, 864990.
2021
- Pimentel, D., & Kalyanaraman, S. (2021). Virtual Climate Scientist: A VR Learning Experience About Paleoclimatology for Underrepresented Students. Interactive Learning Environments.
- Pimentel, D., Kalyanaraman, S., Lee, Y.-H., & Halan, S. (2021). Voices of the unsung: The role of social presence and interactivity in building empathy in 360 video. New Media & Society, 1–25.
- Pimentel, D., Foxman, M., Davis, D. Z., & Markowitz, D. M. (2021). Virtually Real, But Not Quite There: Social and Economic Barriers to Meeting Virtual Reality’s True Potential for Mental Health. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2.
- Pimentel, D., Kalyanaraman, S., Fillingim, R. B., & Halan, S. (2021). The Effects of VR Use on Pain Experienced During a Tattoo Procedure: A Pilot Study. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2, 38.
- Pimentel, D., & Vinkers, C. (2021). Copresence with Virtual Humans in Mixed Reality: The Impact of Contextual Responsiveness on Social Perceptions. Frontiers in Robotics and AI.
2020
- Pimentel, D., & Kalyanaraman, S. (2020). Customizing Your Demons: Anxiety Reduction via Anthropomorphizing and Destroying an “Anxiety Avatar.” Frontiers in Psychology, 11.
For media or collaboration inquiries, contact the Oregon Reality Lab.
Interested in Researching Immersive Media?
Learn about the Immersive Media Communication Master’s program and opportunities to conduct XR research at the University of Oregon.