• International Development Grant
• Senior Student Presenter Grant
• Innovative Student Research Grant
• Innovative Student Research Grant in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Sidney W. & Janet R. Bijou Grant
• Public Awareness Grant
• Microcredentials Grant

Technological Institute of Sonora

Project Title: Behavior Analysis VR Learning Hub

Laurent Avila Chauvet is a research professor at the Technological Institute of Sonora in Sonora, Mexico. He completed his PhD in Behavioral Sciences with a focus on Behavior Analysis at the Center for Studies and Research of Behavior at the University of Guadalajara. Throughout his career as a student and professor, he has been interested in programming, design, and artificial intelligence, aiming to develop low-cost experimental equipment. Currently, he uses experimental laboratory bachelor courses to test prototypes of instruments and experimental equipment designed for the study of animal and human behavior.

One of the challenges faced by teachers and students interested in experimental analysis of behavior in Latin America is the high cost of the experimental equipment used to study animal behavior. In Mexico, only a few institutions have fully equipped laboratories with operant conditioning chambers dedicated to the teaching and study of animal behavior. To bridge this gap, the project aims to develop an online platform that offers students and educators a hands-on experience with virtual Skinner boxes compatible with virtual reality headsets and web browsers. This technology is more affordable compared to the costs associated with experimental equipment and maintaining an animal facility.

Virtual reality allows users to experience three-dimensional virtual environments that resemble the real world. The Behavior Analysis VR Learning Hub platform will enable users to interact with Skinner boxes as experimenters or from the perspective of a rat, using virtual reality headsets. The platform will also feature thematic spaces designed for laboratory courses, including 1) the history of the Skinner box, 2) operant conditioning, and 3) reinforcement schedules. Additionally, the project includes creating a comprehensive manual that empowers teachers and students to program additional reinforcement schedules using C# and visual scripting within the versatile Unity multi-platform game engine.

It is anticipated that teachers in educational institutions lacking experimental equipment for teaching behavior analysis will integrate this platform into their courses. These experiences are expected to foster interest in behavior analysis, research, and the study of behavior.

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