St. Pölten UAS Students at ATLAS Institute

Katharina Kendlbacher and Leonard Grill, students from the bachelor degree programme Creative Computing at the St. Pölten UAS, spent their winter semester at the University of Colorado Boulder as part of the prestigious Europe-Colorado Programme. This initiative, established in 2020, provides outstanding students from Europe with the opportunity to engage in research and graduate studies in engineering and applied sciences at CU Boulder.

"We are delighted that the two Creative Computing students seized this opportunity to gain experience at a renowned university in the USA. For the coming academic year, we have extended the cooperation with CU Boulder to include the Engineering master degree programmes in our faculty", says Academic Director Markus Seidl.

Exploring XR & Game Design at CU Boulder

During their time in Colorado, both students worked as research interns at the renowned ATLAS Institute.

• Katharina Kendlbacher focused on XR storytelling for her bachelor's thesis, exploring how immersive technologies can enhance human-computer interaction and digital storytelling.
• Leonard Grill dedicated his thesis to developing an accessible racing game for blind players using Unity, contributing to research on inclusive game design.

Beyond their academic work, they also had the chance to experience American student life and Colorado’s stunning landscapes – from Halloween celebrations in the snow to hiking in the Rocky Mountains and even a trip to Yellowstone, where they spotted a bison, the inspiration for CU Boulder’s mascot.

We congratulate our students on this enriching experience and look forward to welcoming them back to the St. Pölten UAS!