Safety Science in Classrooms & Communities
Reaching future safety scientists in middle school and beyond to make the world a safer place
X marks the science with Xplorlabs
The Institute for Research Experiences & Education’s award-winning, open-access education platform Xplorlabs allows students to explore real-world phenomena based on UL Research Institutes’ expert research and empowers them to make decisions based on the world around them.
What makes Xplorlabs unique
Our team of education experts works directly with ULRI researchers to translate their findings into safety science-based STEM content for middle through high school. By creating resources that leverage real-world phenomena like lithium-ion battery fires, the battery supply chain, fire forensics, and designing fire-safe spaces, Xplorlabs ensures students are learning about the real-world implications of safety science — exposing them to new careers as well as how to live safer lives.
- Made for educators, by educators
- Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards
- Offers online resources including interactives and videos, hands-on investigations, and opportunities for community partnerships
- Offers paid fellowship opportunities for educators
- Connects educators with community partners, including fire service personnel
- Backed by research from UL Research Institutes
- Completely free to use
“Xplorlabs offers the opportunity for students to apply what they’ve been learning in an authentic real-world scenario. Xplorlabs helps our teachers deepen their content knowledge of science concepts and pedagogy.”
Sally Creel, Ed.D.
Chair, Institute for Research Experiences & Education Advisory Board
Head of Partnerships, For The Win Robotics
Marietta, Georgia
Xplorlabs pathways
The Institute for Research Experiences & Education partners directly with ULRI scientists and researchers to translate cutting-edge research into Xplorlabs learning pathways for teachers and students. The content is evaluated and updated based on direct feedback from educators using the platform nationwide.
Educational pathways explore the science of:
Thermal runaway
Battery supply chains
Fire forensics
Fire safety
Start Solving with Science
Xplorlabs Community Partnerships
Bringing fire service personnel and teachers together in classrooms across the country
Partnering with our institute’s education experts, school districts and fire departments throughout the country are building community education programs that bring fire service personnel and educators together in the classroom — teaching students about real-world topics such as fire forensics, fire safety, and thermal runaway.
In metro Atlanta, the Xplorlabs Community Partnerships model is implemented across four school districts and has been recognized for helping to meet the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s accreditation criteria for external agency partnerships and was featured in the certification process for one county fire department in the Atlanta area.
Xplorlabs Educator Fellowship
A key step in engaging future safety scientists is engaging teachers in safety science research and providing resources they can use to educate their students. The Xplorlabs Educator Fellowship provides teachers and informal educators with professional learning experiences with peers and leaders in education, as well as safety science researchers and scientists from UL Research Institutes. Using Xplorlabs.org, fellows explore phenomena, emerging technologies, and multidisciplinary challenges that impact safety.
The yearlong fellowship starts in May with the application typically opening in March to early April.
Xplorlabs Educator Fellows:
- Receive an honorarium
- Participate in the Annual Fellows Summit and various conferences
- Collaborate with expert educators and fellows across the country to codevelop safety science lessons
- Connect with industry-leading scientists and researchers from UL Research Institutes
The program has grown since its inception in 2023 thanks to regional partnerships with Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation and the Greater Phoenix Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainability, an initiative of ASU’s Global Futures Education Alliance, as well as Penn Engineering’s Cora Ingrum Center for Community and Outreach.
In 2023, 18 fellows across 5 states had an impact on 4,860 students. Since then, with the growth of the fellowship year-over-year, Xplorlabs Educator Fellows have had an impact on more than 20,000 students.
The Institute for Research Experiences & Education provides educator fellows with access to ULRI’s leading-edge safety science research and robust professional development opportunities and experiences. At the end of their fellowship, these teachers share their learnings with other educators in their communities and serve as longtime advocates and mentors for our institute’s mission to build the future of safety science.
What fellows are saying …
“Students are the future of safety science. They seek solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems around both personal safety and the safety and resilience of our shared planet. But these same students are completely unaware of the field of safety science. Through this program, we engage educators and youth in developing resources to create awareness and build skills so students can be part of the path to a more equitable, safe, and sustainable world.”
Molly Cashion, 2024-25 Xplorlabs Educator Fellow
“The safety science research being conducted at ULRI is extremely relevant to middle school students because it connects their classroom learning to real-world events. This sparks students’ curiosity and increases their sense of purpose by taking ownership of their work.”
Kara Reeder, 2023-24 Xplorlabs Educator Fellow and 2025-26 Xplorlabs Capstone Fellow and Regional Facilitator
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