Inspiration
Scientific education in Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa is severely limited by material constraints: insufficient laboratories, expensive chemicals, and high safety risks. We were inspired by the vision of transforming this reality through immersive technology, offering every student a safe, interactive, and accessible learning experience in virtual environments.
What it does
MX Chimie is a virtual reality application that simulates a complete chemistry laboratory. Students wear an immersive headset (Meta Quest 2) and manipulate realistic 3D instruments, conduct simulated chemical experiments, and observe reactions in real-time. The application offers guided modes with theoretical explanations and assessment modes to test acquired knowledge.
How we built it
We built MX Chimie with Unity 3D (C# language) for performance and VR compatibility. Detailed 3D models were created with Blender, faithfully reproducing laboratory instruments and chemical reactions. The platform runs on Meta Quest 2 to ensure maximum accessibility and immersion.
Challenges we ran into
Accurately reproducing chemical reactions with scientific precision while maintaining fluidity and immersion; optimizing 3D performance for consumer VR headsets; integrating realistic virtual safety procedures; adapting educational content for different school levels; designing natural interactions in virtual reality without cognitive overload.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Creation of a highly realistic immersive 3D laboratory environment; implementation of a scientifically accurate chemical simulation system; development of an intuitive user journey with guided and assessment modes; integration of automatic scoring and feedback systems; design adapted to the budget constraints of African institutions.
What we learned
The importance of immersion in science learning; specific challenges of education in West Africa; VR application optimization; the need to balance scientific rigor and pedagogical accessibility; the transformative potential of technology in democratizing quality education.
What's next for MX Chimie
Integration of new chemical experiments (organometallic, biochemistry); development of a web platform to track learner progress; expansion to other scientific disciplines (physics, biology); partnerships with the Ministry of Education of Côte d'Ivoire; adaptation for other VR/AR headsets (Apple Vision Pro, HoloLens).
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