Sime's contribution to this paper, reviewed by 2 international referees, was in the research design, analysis of data and the original contribution was the pedagogical framework for the elearning environment. The Austrian partners, Sfiri, Matzer and Pauschenswein wrote about the social aspects of on-line communities of practice. Shaw assisted Sime in the data gathering and analysis. The EC funded collaboration with North American and European partners, investigated an innovative design for 3D virtual laboratory with on-line discussion spaces for a community of learners and practitioners. The impact on working practice has been immediate with over 600 users worldwide in a specialist community. It is now supported by the European Association for Nuclear Medicine and since its launch in 2003 has been used in Higher Education in Canada and UK in a blended setting. The environment has been evaluated very favourably by users and continues to be used by practitioners worldwide. RAE_import_type : Chapter in book RAE_uoa_type : Education