On October 17, 2026, ESSIC scientists Guangyang Fang and Joseph Patton and CISESS student interns Samuel Wiggins, Ian Way, Abdur-Rahman Shakir, and Abdul Hadi hosted a STEM outreach booth representing UMD/ESSIC/CISESS at the 11th Annual Spooky Mad Science Expo. Held at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center in Alexandria, Virginia, the event brought children and families together for hands-on science activities and demonstrations.
The “Virtual Reality & Lightning Science with UMD” booth featured the updated Virtual Proving Ground and Training Center (VPGTC) and Atmosphere Augmented Reality (AR) applications. Developed by the CISESS Extended Reality (XR) group, these tools use immersive, interactive environments to make atmospheric science concepts more accessible and engaging. The demonstrations introduced visitors to virtual and augmented reality as complementary approaches to exploring weather and Earth science.
The CISESS XR Team giving demonstrations to students.
The student interns guided visitors through the applications, helped participants use the equipment, and answered questions about the experiences. Alongside the immersive demonstrations, Patton presented an interactive lightning safety game, engaging children and families in learning practical ways to stay safe during thunderstorms.
This marked the fourth consecutive year that the CISESS XR Group participated in the Spooky Mad Science Expo. Organized by Chrysalis Development Group, the annual event combines Halloween festivities with STEM education, connecting young learners with scientists, engineers, and educators. The team’s continued participation highlights its commitment to bringing atmospheric science research and lightning safety education into the community.
More information about the XR Group’s projects is available at xr.cisess.umd.edu.
