SSH labs: ‘Researchers are amazed at what we have here’
Just outside Leiden city centre is the Sylvius building. This building of the Faculty of Science houses no fewer than 25 labs where FGW and FSW scientists conduct their research.
As lab manager, Maureen Meekel manages the 25 labs that humanities scientists can use. 'Most of them are multifunctional. You can do eye-tracking there, but also, for example, just use the computers we have for data-intensive experiments or game research,' she says. 'We also have three virtual reality labs that we can split into five. The largest is so spacious that you can also do navigation and dance experiments there, while another has a large driving simulator.'
Researchers doing more observational research can also use the Sylvius. Three labs have cameras everywhere that can be used to film parent-child interactions, for example. There is also an observation lab in a classroom setting. ‘Teaching materials can be tested there, for instance,’ Meekel explains.
‘Learning from each other’
Humanities scholar Sarita Koendjbiharie has already tried out the labs. Using virtual reality glasses, she mapped people's behaviour and empathy. 'We created an environment where participants enter the skin of a female train conductor of colour through VR glasses. She is then treated racially. We test how participants react to that.' The technical capabilities of the labs make it possible for us to do this kind of experiment, Koendjbiharie explains. ‘The labs are also a place where different scientific fields come together, so you can learn from fellow scientists.’
Paz Gonzalez agrees. 'The equipment is great and the people are incredibly helpful. I myself conducted a linguistic study, where participants experienced different scenarios with VR glasses. For colleagues looking to do similar research, I would definitely recommend the SSH Labs.'
Seeing possibilities
Researchers interested in using a lab can contact Meekel. 'We always schedule an intake, where you can come and see the labs. This is a deliberate choice, because we have so many materials that researchers often come up with ideas to perform their experiments more efficiently at that stage. After that, you can usually get started within a few weeks.’ And the support doesn’t end there. ‘You don't have to worry about spending hours creating your own set-up,’ Meekel goes on to say. ‘Our lab technicians are there to give you further help if you need it.’