Team VISTA

Virtual Interactive STEM Teaching Aid

Making real laboratory equipment accessible to every student, everywhere.

University of Maryland • Gemstone Honors • Cohort 2027

Transforming STEM Education

Making virtual physical labs accessible to every student, everywhere

Our Vision

Team VISTA is revolutionizing STEM education through the design of virtual physical labs that emulate real laboratory experiences. We believe every student deserves access to hands-on science education, regardless of their location or circumstances.

100% Remote Access
Real Lab Equipment
Live Data Streaming

Core Values Driving Our Research

Accessibility

Breaking down geographical and economic barriers to quality STEM education

Real-time Control

Students control actual lab equipment and see immediate, authentic results

Authentic Learning

Making mistakes and corrections in real-time, just like in physical labs

Inclusivity

Ensuring equitable access to quality STEM education for all students

What Sets Us Apart

01

Real Equipment, Not Simulations

Students control actual laboratory hardware remotely. Every adjustment, measurement, and result comes from real physical equipment in our labs.

02

Authentic Scientific Experience

Experience real experimental challenges including equipment limitations, measurement uncertainties, and unexpected results that teach critical thinking.

03

Collaborative Remote Learning

Work with peers from anywhere in the world on the same experiment, fostering global scientific collaboration and teamwork.

The Gemstone Program

University of Maryland Honors College

A prestigious four-year multidisciplinary research program where undergraduate teams tackle society's most pressing challenges. Through collaborative research, mentorship from faculty experts, and rigorous academic inquiry, Gemstone teams like VISTA advance knowledge and create real-world impact.

25+ Years of Excellence
4 Year Program
100+ Research Teams

Meet Team VISTA

United in our mission to revolutionize STEM education

Team VISTA Group Photo

Team Members

The brilliant minds behind our virtual laboratory innovations

Faculty Mentor

Xin Zan

Dr. Xin Zan

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Zan guides Team VISTA in developing innovative virtual laboratory solutions, bringing expertise in educational technology and system integration to support our mission of making STEM education accessible to all.

Interface 1 • UI/UX

Ayolani Akinwale

Ayolani Akinwale

Team Liaison

Interface 1

Daniel Kim

Daniel Kim

Library Liaison

Interface 1

Interface 2 • Integration

Harshil Agarwal

Harshil Agarwal

Web Liaison

Interface 2

Nicky Zhang

Nicky Zhang

Secretary

Interface 2

Interface 3 • Hardware

Ben Nathan

Ben Nathan

Mentor Liaison

Interface 3

Markell Morris

Markell Morris

Social Media Manager

Interface 3

Alexander Campbell

Alexander Campbell

Treasurer

Interface 3

Our Virtual Physical Labs

Transforming STEM education through innovative virtual laboratory experiences across three integrated interfaces

Interface 1

User Experience & Backend

Building intuitive platforms for seamless virtual lab access

Interface 2

System Integration

Bridging hardware and software with real-time communication

Interface 3

Hardware Control

Enabling remote control of physical lab equipment

Our Journey to Impact

2025 Launch
2026 Research
2026 Analysis
2027 Defense

Currently: Prototype Development Phase

Contact Us

Have questions about our research? We'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch

Address

University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Gemstone Honors Program

Send us a Message