Institute for Simulation & Training

Dr. David Metcalf, our Director of the METIL at IST is on-site at TSIS. If you want to learn more about all the great things we are doing at IST, make sure to say hello!

That’s a wrap on the first day of AWE 2026! Lots of great conversations today. If you’re at the show, stop by Booth #337 tomorrow and Thursday to see and interact with our Auggie Award finalist entries.

As America celebrates 250 years of innovation, UCF is redefining technology and shaping the future of what’s next!

From immersive technologies and digital twins to robotics, AI, and space exploration, UCF researchers and students are collaborating to redefine how technology advances industries, strengthens partnerships, and solves real-world challenges, while preparing the next generation to lead in an increasingly technology-driven world.

A great look at how UCF IST is helping shape the future of innovation:

UCF is redefining technology & shaping the future of what's next UCF researchers are setting new standards across military, energy, space and health sectors with its simulation and training labs

Tomorrow, UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training will be attending the 2026 Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS), which runs June 17-18. Our team will join partners across industry, academia and government to exchange ideas and accelerate innovation in modeling, simulation and training.

For 251 years, the United States Army has demonstrated leadership, resilience and service to the nation. 🇺🇸

The UCF Institute for Simulation & Training is proud to support the advancement of defense innovation through research in simulation, immersive technologies and team performance that help strengthen training and operational readiness for the future.

Happy 251st Birthday to the U.S. Army!

Meet Dr. Shawn Burke, research professor and director of the Team Research and Adaptability in Complex Environments (TRACE) Lab at the UCF Institute for Simulation & Training (IST).

From NASA analog missions to long-duration sailing crews, Dr. Burke’s research explores how teams adapt, communicate and build resilience in some of the world’s most extreme environments. 🚀

“We know that cohesion is generally a good thing in teams because that’s the thing that causes us to go above and beyond,” Burke said. “It creates the kind of commitment that makes people step up when the team needs them.”

UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training is gearing up for the Augmented World Expo (AWE), taking place June 15-18 in Long Beach, CA — and we’re bringing immersive innovation with us!

Get ready for “Be There Without Being There: Humanoid Robot Immersive Telepresence,” featuring our CAVE-like consumer system and robotic systems designed to push the boundaries of presence, perception and human-machine interaction. 🤖

https://www.awexr.com/usa-2026

Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, executive director of the Pegasus Research Institute and UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training (IST), will be speaking at the Digital Enterprise Show (DES) in Málaga, Spain, on June 11. 🇪🇸

DES brings together experts in industry and academia to explore the future of AI, immersive technologies and digital transformation.

Dr. Cruz-Neira’s participation reflects IST’s continued impact in shaping advanced simulation and digital innovation worldwide.

https://www.des-show.com/agenda-speakers/carolina-cruz/

Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, executive director of the Pegasus Research Institute (PRI) and the UCF Institute for Simulation & Training, and Dr. David Metcalf, director of the Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab (METIL) within IST, were featured in an article for their participation in the fourth annual Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit.

The researchers discussed emerging trends in immersive technologies and applied research supporting the modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) industry.

https://teamorlando.org/ucf-researchers-outline-future-of-xr-ai-in-training-at-vrara-immersive-technology-summit/