I’m looking for

Immersive virtual universes to support experiential learning on sustainable development within the classroom

What is SIMPLE ?

SIMPLE (Sustainability Issues Multiverse for building Participatory Learning Environments) is a project co-funded by the European Union that aims to explore the value of virtual reality in raising young people's awareness of the need to build sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.

SIMPLE is in line with the objective of the EU-ASEAN partnership for dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate action and environmental protection.
See more

Project Lead

French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)

French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)

At IRD, the project involves members of the Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Complex Systems Research Unit (UMMISCO), the Advanced Computational Research On Sustainability Science (ACROSS) International Joint Laboratory and the IRD headquarters services on Capacity Building and Scientific Culture.

[Visit site]

Implementing Institutions

Can Tho University (CTU)

Can Tho University (CTU)

At CTU, members of the College of Information and Communication Technology (CICT), the College of Environment and Natural Resources (CENRes) and the School of Education contribute to the project implementation, focusing on land subsidence and water salinity.

[Visit site]

National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)</a>

National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)

At NSTDA, members of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) and Sirindorn Science Home contribute to the project implementation, focusing on forest biodiversity restoration.

[Visit site]

Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT)

Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT)

CADT leads the development of the Virtual Universe in Cambodia, focusing on the impacts of pesticides on insect biodiversity and sustainable agriculture in the Mekong region.

[Visit site]

BeDev Consulting

BeDev Consulting

BeDev Consulting, partnering with the National University of Laos (NUOL), leads the development of the Virtual Universe in Lao PDR, focusing on dengue fever awareness and prevention methods.

[Visit site]

News

SIMPLE Brings Virtual Reality (VR) to the Techfest Hải Phòng 2026

11/08/2026

SIMPLE Brings Virtual Reality (VR) to the Techfest Hải Phòng 2026

On 4th and 5th August 2026, the SIMPLE project joined Thuyloi University’s exhibition booth at the Techfest Hải Phòng 2026, held at Vietnam Maritime University. The event provided an opportunity for the team to introduce two VR activities to the public – ÉVEIL and HÀ NỘI 1926 – while also promoting the SIMPLE VR Contest, a competition inviting young creators to design their own VR experiences. Over the course of two days, the booth drew hundreds of visitors including young children, university students, technology professionals, business owners, and international guests alike. To ensure all visitors could engage with the experience, the team introduced an alternative viewing option via personal smartphones. This flexible solution was well-received and widely appreciated by visitors....

Teaching Environmental Conservation Through Virtual Reality: SIMPLE at Thailand’s SMT 25 Conference

06/08/2026

Teaching Environmental Conservation Through Virtual Reality: SIMPLE at Thailand’s SMT 25 Conference

On 23rd July 2026, BiodiVRestorer, an immersive learning session developed within the SIMPLE Project, was showcased by the BioTec team from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) at the 25th National Conference on Science and Mathematics Education in Schools (SMT 25). Bringing VR into the Classroom of the Future The activity was presented during a hands-on workshop under the conference’s Classroom of the Future session, designed to inspire educators to integrate Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies into their teaching practices. Through the BiodiVRestorer experience, participants explored how immersive digital tools can deepen students’ knowledge, boost engagement, and strengthen awareness of environmental conservation. Throughout the session, educators actively discussed how AR and VR technologies could be...

SIMPLE at the ASEAN AMMSTI-22 Lao Side Event

03/07/2026

SIMPLE at the ASEAN AMMSTI-22 Lao Side Event

The SIMPLE project, implemented by BeDev Consulting in Lao PDR, was featured in Vientiane, on 25 June 2026 during the Lao Side Event of the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22). Under the theme “Advancing the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) for a Resilient, Sustainable and Competitive ASEAN,” this side event showcased Lao innovations in science and technology to a regional audience of ASEAN delegates and policymakers. At the SIMPLE exhibition booth, Prof. Khamxay Leevangtou – Head of the Metaverse section at the National University of Laos (NUOL) – demonstrated the AEDES VR dengue education programme throughout the day. Delegates put on Meta Quest 3 headsets to experience the program firsthand,...

Frequently Asked Questions

SIMPLE is a project co-funded by the European Union that aims to explore the value of virtual reality in raising young people’s awareness of the need to build sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.

Within the project, SIMPLE has developed multiple 3D Virtual Universes (VUs), each accompanied by dedicated learning units, which are used to implement experiments based on virtual reality (VR) in schools.

To launch these experiments in classrooms, the project uses the M2L2 (Mobile Metaverse Learning Lab), its own dedicated device to easily deploy the necessary equipment to run VR game sessions smoothly.

A Virtual Universe (VU) is a 3D virtual world where students can explore and interact with scientific concepts. It uses Virtual Reality (VR) to create an immersive experience for students. The SIMPLE team has developed many VUs with different sustainability topics (salt intrusion, biodiversity, dengue fever and insect biodiversity) across four countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Lao PDR and Cambodia. You can explore the scientific message of our VUs here.

A learning unit is a structured plan or framework that describes how a learning experience will take place. It outlines what learners will do, what they will learn, and provides instructions to teachers on how to handle and adjust the activities and tools developed in SIMPLE (such as the VU). Within the SIMPLE project, a learning unit is designed along with the VUs to bring an immersive learning experience to the students.

A VR-based (Virtual Reality) experiment is an immersive learning experience where students explore a Virtual Universe (VU) using VR, guided by a dedicated learning unit. Through interactions, observations, and discussions, students gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability issues and are encouraged to develop their own solutions.

The M2L2 which stands for Mobile Metaverse Learning Lab is a mobile device gathering all the necessary equipment to run virtual reality game sessions in educational environments. It has been elaborated so people with no technical background, particularly teachers, can drive the experiment.

Open to all ASEAN citizens

VR Contest

Stay Updated

Sponsor

Co-funded by the European Union. SIMPLE is led by IRD and implemented by its partners in the Lower Mekong region (CTU, NSTDA, CADT, BeDev) under the EU–ASEAN Green Partnership Programme.

This website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of SIMPLE and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Sponsor logo

© Copyright SIMPLE. All right reserved. Powered by Letweb.