Hi All,

I got recently introduced to online virtual worlds and looking for a possible open source free alternative to Second Life, I came across OpenlifeGrid. I have started using OpenLifeGrid, mostly roaming in the various regions. I am interested to set up a program to teach students at all levels (ranging from general members of the public to students at the graduate level) how to set up and conduct epidemic investigations in real life. This is a difficult topic to teach, and there are no programmes devoted to teaching of epidemic investigations either in Second Life or in OpenLifeGrid. Thus, this would be a first, educational program in virtual world that will enable people to construct investigations of diseases in their created worlds using 3-D graphics, stories that will be modifiable, and courses of action.

As it stands, this will require access to a region that needs to be sculpted for this purpose (like creating portio of a small village where an outbreak has taken place, or a small prototype of a residential area, or a hospital ward), with further programming to create the notes, and other objects where a user can interact and be guided to conduct epidemic investigations.

If there are interested individuals who'd like to join this venture, please feel free to email me at arin.basu@gmail.com, or contact me in OpenLifeGrid, my avatar name is: Arin01 Sav

It'd be great if we get some land to start this project. The results of this project can be distributed and used to health departments for preparing people everywhere on how to investigate for themselves real world disease outbreaks.

/Arin Basu