Lucy Cavendish Fellow recognised for groundbreaking work in virtual reality learning.
Dr Chris Macdonald, Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, has been announced as a finalist for Education Innovator of the Year at the 2025 Innovation Awards. The recognition celebrates his pioneering work in immersive learning technology, particularly his creation of Virtual Reality Public Speaking, a first-of-its-kind platform that transforms users into skilled and confident public speakers.
The platform guides users through a progressively challenging journey, where virtual reality environments replicate high-pressure speaking scenarios. By engineering a method to transform ordinary smartphones into VR headsets, Dr Macdonald has ensured global accessibility, and today, the platform supports students in over 100 countries.
A key innovation is the introduction of Overexposure Therapy: repeated practice in extreme, often impossible-to-replicate situations, such as delivering a speech in a hyper-distracting stadium of 10,000 spectators. This approach, pioneered by Dr Macdonald, is likened to “training with weights” for the mind; it builds adaptability, resilience, and grit. In a recent trial with students at Cambridge and UCL, one week of self-guided use delivered measurable benefits for every participant.
Dr Macdonald’s work has already earned multiple accolades, including Cambridge University’s Excellence Award for improving interventions that encourage sustainable food consumption, and the National Innovation Award for using VR to better translate and visualise emissions data.
In 2024, he was also crowned the winner of the 40 Under 40 Award in the Science and Innovation, recognising the UK’s most influential emerging leaders. Dr Macdonald’s research is regularly featured by The Guardian, The Times, BBC Science, ITV News, and other major outlets.
Dr Macdonald is currently trialling an innovative fat-loss app that harnesses cutting-edge metabolic and behavioural science and is welcoming early beta users.
The Innovation Awards celebrate individuals and organisations driving transformative change. Following a competitive public vote, Dr Macdonald has advanced to the final stage, where he will be interviewed by a panel of judges.
Reflecting on the nomination, Dr Macdonald said:
“It is an honour to further signpost Lucy Cavendish College as a trailblazer at the University of Cambridge.”