Bintul Huda

Whispers of the Shannon River: A Virtual Reality Journey to River Heritage and Restoration

Water shapes Ireland’s landscapes. Still, many people today are not aware of the challenges faced by the longest river of Ireland, the Shannon. This river isn’t just water flowing down in the countryside, it carries stories forward, supports various ecosystems, and connects communities. Even though it's important part of Ireland, people fail to point out the reasons for its degradation.

In support, the University of Limerick has set a goal to restore the Shannon River by 2030. This mission is not just about policy and science; it calls for the community to care more about the river’s future. Traditional methods for environmental education fall weak when it comes to connecting emotionally with people, and emotional connection is crucial to feel responsible and care.

That’s where this study steps in with a Virtual Reality experience, designed to take users directly into Shannon’s environment with interactive emotional storytelling. Users see its beauty and current struggles and feel empathy and responsibility. This tool aims to move beyond passive learning to something more immediate and impactful. To evaluate this study, pre- and post-experience surveys were conducted with participants during prototype testing, and the results noticed shifts in awareness, empathy, and motivation to care.

This work contributes to the field of immersive environmental education by showing how Virtual Reality can be used to promote emotional connection and result in practical action in real life. Its contribution towards the mission of the University of Limerick to restore the Shannon River by offering an innovative tool that fills the gap between knowledge and care, encouraging stronger community ownership of local waterways.