The sight of snakes often triggers fear for many people, resulting in unnecessary killings of these important creatures that serve a vital role in our ecosystem. This study seeks to explore whether virtual reality (VR) can effectively educate people on how to identify five species of snake native to North Carolina. The application created in this study will combine immersive VR technology with educational content to create an interactive and engaging learning experience, which will be the first of its kind regarding snake identification. The qualitative and quantitative results of this study indicate that the utilization of VR technology to educate individuals on snake identification is possible. This shows the potential for knowledge sharing and positive perceptions of snakes that can be used to prevent future harm to them.

Recommended Citation: Evonko S., Ebrahimi E., Pence T., Modaresnezhad M., (2024). SnakeSavvy: Utilizing Virtual Reality for education on snake identification in North Carolina. UNCW MS CSIS Proceedings. V. 18 , N. 19 .