Innovation Springs Interview 11: Jane Harrington

• MedMicroMaps Homepage: https://medmicromaps.com/ 
• Metaquest Experience: https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/microbe-xr/26671150639209823/?srsltid=AfmBOori6kqQplnckqrlABCSKAQz-Pu7v08ufSi88Nvg_F3uiRBfPKJl 
• Exponential Impact Accelerator Program: https://exponentialimpact.com/xi-accelerator/ 
• 1 Million Cups Founder Events: https://www.1millioncups.com/s/ 

📺 Viewers can access the full transcript or captions on the YouTube video for a deeper dive into the conversation.

https://youtu.be/3HZy0dXw8Fs

🎧 VR, Gaming & the Future of Science Education

How can virtual reality, gaming, and immersive technology make science education more engaging and accessible?

In this episode of Innovation Springs, host Hayley Blackburn talks with Dr. Jane, a former PhD researcher and medical educator who transitioned from academia into entrepreneurship as CEO and co-founder of MedMicroMaps, an XR gaming company. Her work grew out of a desire to rethink how science—particularly microbiology—is taught.

Dr. Jane describes the disconnect she saw between the excitement of hands-on science education and the stress of later educational experiences built around memorization and testing. Teaching microbiology during the pandemic pushed that problem into sharper focus. As she puts it, “there’s gotta be a better way.”

That different approach became Med Micro Maps. The company creates immersive science experiences using microscopy images, scientific literature, 3D assets, and spatial computing. Its game is designed to make microbes approachable through interactive experiences that can extend across gaming, social spaces, and educational settings.

The conversation also follows Dr. Jane’s transition from researcher and educator to startup founder. She discusses learning marketing, customer discovery, analytics, user testing, storytelling, and how to communicate science to younger audiences. Her work increasingly targets teenagers while also exploring how immersive technology can support learners from high school through higher education.

A central theme throughout the episode is the role of joy in learning. Dr. Jane argues that meaningful education does not have to be built around pressure and memorization. Instead, curiosity, accomplishment, experimentation, and the willingness to make mistakes can become part of the learning experience.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How VR and extended reality can be used for science education
• Why Dr. Jane moved from traditional teaching toward immersive learning
• How microbiology and medical education can be translated into interactive experiences
• What skills from academic research transfer into entrepreneurship
• How user testing and feedback influence educational game design
• How immersive technology could connect K–12, higher education, and workforce learning

🔑 Key Quotes

“They want to learn, they want to learn, they want to succeed, but memorizing and regurgitating, not all of us can do that.”

“They’re fascinating and they all have stories and characters.”

“That’s bringing joy to the science and fun and making it accessible.”

“We believe that technology should follow the learner and that the schools should be adapting with them.”

🎯 Why Students & Faculty Should Listen

This episode is especially relevant for students and faculty interested in science education, medical education, virtual reality, extended reality, game design, instructional technology, and entrepreneurship.

For educators, Dr. Jane offers a concrete example of moving beyond memorization and creating opportunities for curiosity, interaction, and meaningful learning. For students, her career transition demonstrates how skills developed through research and teaching can be applied in a startup environment.

The episode also highlights the value of interdisciplinary work. Med Micro Maps brings together science, education, art, gaming, technology, and user experience to rethink how learners interact with complex scientific ideas. As Dr. Jane explains, bringing these perspectives together can help make science more accessible while preparing learners for a changing technological landscape.