Mobile STEM education is part of MdBio Foundation’s larger strategy to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. MdBio Foundation is proud to operate three vehicles of change:
MdBioLab is the Foundation’s flagship mobile laboratory. Built in 2003, this original custom-built mobile laboratory has served high school students, and their teachers, throughout the state of Maryland. MdBioLab was built to increase student knowledge and confidence with laboratory concepts and techniques while alleviating the budgetary burdens of laboratory science on schools. MdBioLab has provided quality educational experiences to more than 140,000 students throughout the state of Maryland since its launch in 2003. The program has shown statistically significant increases in student knowledge of science concepts as well as gains at improving attitudes towards STEM as a field of study and STEM-related careers. The Foundation’s education programs are popular with both students and teachers, and each year demand increases for school visits. Most notably, MdBioLab’s request-based schedule filled in less than 20 minutes for the 2015-16 school year, with more than 90 requests from high schools for only 35 available visits.
A #STEMLegend in the making, the Mobile eXploration Lab is the country’s largest, most advanced mobile laboratory. Called MXLab for short, the nearly 1000 sq ft laboratory has been custom-designed by MdBio to expand new technology and laboratory science experiences and pique students’ interests in STEM learning and careers.
MdBio Foundation is excited to be partnering with Verizon Innovative Learning to bring a new mobile experience to District of Columbia Public Schools. The Verizon Innovative Learning explorer lab is an immersive virtual reality experience that sends middle school explorers on relevant, interactive STEM missions far from home—without leaving the school parking lot.