Maria C. R. Harrington

Maria C. R. Harrington, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Digital Media in the Games and Interactive Media Program at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Nicholson School of Communication and Media. She also directs The Harrington Lab, an interdisciplinary research group that designs, develops, and evaluates immersive AR/VR/XR applications for informal learning and health.

Education

• Ph.D. in Information Science, University of Pittsburgh (2008)
• M.S. in Information Science, University of Pittsburgh (1990)
• B.S. in Economics and Art, Carnegie Mellon University (1988)

Research Focus

Harrington’s scholarship lies at the intersection of virtual reality, human-centered design, and ecological data visualization. Using game engines, GIS datasets, and botanically accurate 3-D models, she creates “virtual nature” experiences—digital twins of forests, arboretums, and museum dioramas—that foster awe, curiosity, and measurable learning gains. Her work explores how information fidelity, navigational freedom, and aesthetic beauty influence emotional and cognitive outcomes in informal settings such as museums, botanical gardens, and K-12 classrooms.

Publications & Creative Impact

Across 2020-2023 alone, Harrington has advanced the field through Frontiers in Virtual Reality, Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, SIGGRAPH, and I/ITSEC venues. Recent titles such as “Virtual Nature Makes Knowledge Beautiful” and “Learning and Emotional Outcomes in an Immersive Omnidirectional Pilot Study” highlight her dual commitment to rigorous empirical evaluation and public engagement.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• 2024 UCF College of Sciences Teaching & Research Incentive Awards ($10 k each)
• 2022 UCF College of Sciences Excellence in Research Award
• 2022 UCF Nicholson School Outstanding Creative Activity Award
• 2021 AECT Outstanding Digital Learning Artifact Award
• 2018 Carnegie Museum Artist in Residence Award
• 2006 Pitt Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Advising & Collaborative Grants

Harrington mentors a steady stream of undergraduate and graduate research assistants—many co-authoring papers and software releases. Notable mentees include Zachary Bledsoe, Chris Jones, Thomas Pring, and James Miller. Multi-year support has come from Epic Games, UCF Office of Research, and Carnegie Museum of Natural History, enabling flagship projects such as The Virtual UCF Arboretum (100-hectare VR simulation) and AR Perpetual Garden (mobile AR diorama suite).

Labs, Teams & Partnerships

The Harrington Lab is a hub for cross-disciplinary collaboration with UCF’s Department of Biology, Landscape & Natural Resources, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Powdermill Nature Reserve, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, and NASA’s Human Research Program. Current and future efforts target restorative VR for isolated/confined environments, AI-enhanced storytelling in XR, and scalable digital twins of global ecosystems for STEM outreach and climate-change education.