Immersive Scientific Communication: A Multidimensional Theoretical Model for Approaching Extended Reality as a Medium

Abstract

Extended reality (XR) promises to dramatically change the framework of scientific communication. XR offers new possibilities for creating engaging scientific content, presenting complex information, and designing immersive experiences. Scientists and communicators need to better understand interactive and immersive narratives to harness these potentials of XR. This essay proposes a multidimensional theoretical model for immersive scientific communication that evaluates the interface models of XR, analyses its levels of reality and interaction, and identifies the dominant characteristics of the narrative. This model promotes the critical and reflective application of XR to science communication, especially Citizen Science projects.