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Xplorlabs: Leading the Way in Safety Science Education

In an impressive streak of recognition, UL Research Institutes' online safety science educational platform, Xplorlabs, has recently been honored with four national awards within a mere two months. This remarkable achievement reflects the platform's commitment to innovation in education, particularly in cultivating safety science and STEM careers among students.

Accolades and Awards

On April 14, 2025, Xplorlabs received the prestigious EdTech Chronicle's Editor's Choice for Innovative Learning Tool. Prior to this, it had nabbed two finalist spots in esteemed competitions: the EdTech Digest's Cool Tool Awards for its designation as a STEM Solution, and recognition for its Senior Director, Kelly Keena, being a finalist for the EdTech Digest's Leadership Awards. Furthermore, at the end of January, Xplorlabs clinched Tech Learning’s Award of Excellence for the best educational tools in the secondary education category.

EdTech Chronicle is an influential online publication that champions advancements in education technology, while EdTech Digest’s awards mark some of the most significant recognitions in the global education technology community. In contrast, Tech Learning celebrates those that excel in enhancing the educational experience for teachers, students, and educational professionals.

A Platform Built on Quality Education

At the heart of Xplorlabs is a dedication to advancing safety science education. The platform offers four distinct learning pathways focusing on essential themes such as fire safety systems, fire forensics, thermal runaway, and battery supply chains. For each topic, educators and students are supported with extensive resources, including videos from ULRI's research labs, interactive online materials, hands-on investigations, and engineering challenges specifically crafted by education specialists.

Kelly Keena, Ph.D., emphasizes the platform's goal by stating, "Our office is committed to empowering both students and educators by providing open-access resources to help elevate the safety science and STEM careers that are at the heart of our work. Through Xplorlabs, we bring the same real-world safety scenarios ULRI researchers focus on in the lab into the classroom to help enhance understanding of the science of safety and promote safer living."

A Growing Community of Educators and Students

Xplorlabs has seen substantial growth, particularly noting that in 2024 alone, it reached over 4,000 cities worldwide. The education team actively engaged over 250 educators through 22 professional development workshops nationwide, impacting more than 68,000 students. The platform's pioneering Educator Fellowship program, initiated in 2023, saw its first cohort of 18 educators expand to 30 fellows across eight states in 2024-2025. These partnerships enable Xplorlabs to make a lasting impact on nearly 13,000 students.

In an exciting development, Xplorlabs is set to unveil its very first permanent physical space this fall—the UL Research Institutes Interactive Classroom at Cobb County Safety Village in metro Atlanta. Highlighting the importance of practical experience, this facility is designed to teach children how to react safely in potentially dangerous situations while also serving as a workshop venue for future Xplorlabs activities.

To explore more about the resources available through Xplorlabs, visit Xplorlabs.org.

About UL Research Institutes

UL Research Institutes is a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to safeguarding public safety through scientific explorations. Since its inception in 1894, ULRI has worked towards a sustainable and secure future by tackling pressing global safety issues, including fire mitigation, air quality, and digital privacy. Through rigorous research and close collaborations, ULRI remains at the forefront of addressing evolving safety challenges. For more detailed insights, visit UL.org.