We want to change the face of scientific education in El Salvador! Alongside the Educational Foundation El Salvador, we have developed the program “STEM in El Salvador Mining Camp” to enrich the educational experience of over 400 1st-year students from Liceo Diego de Almeida.
The work during 2023 of “STEM in El Salvador Mining Camp” focused on Biology, Chemistry, and Physics experiments, leveraging unlimited access to Lab4U tools and pedagogical materials aligned with the school’s curriculum. Through experimentation sessions, teachers facilitated deep, practical, and meaningful learning experiences, fostering interest and participation of students in science and technology.
In this first version of the “STEM in El Salvador Mining Camp” program, students from Liceo Diego de Almeida actively participated in numerous real-time practical experimentation sessions. The program, supported by the Educational Foundation El Salvador, provided access to educational materials centered around inquiry-based learning, and participating teachers received ongoing training, support, and guidance, ensuring a seamless integration of these resources into their class planning.
“We are very excited to reach the third region of Chile with the STEM in El Salvador Mining Camp Program, in collaboration with the Educational Foundation El Salvador. This initiative plays a crucial role in motivating Chilean students to explore the wonders of science and mining. STEM education is essential for cultivating the necessary talent in the 21st century, and this program undoubtedly encourages young minds to envision professional opportunities within the mining industry, which holds great prominence in northern Chile and, particularly, in the Copiapó area, being the last city-camp in Chile.”
We are committed to continuing to inspire passion for science and technology, paving the way for each student to explore new frontiers, thus becoming innovators and creators in the fascinating world of STEM.
El Salvador, the next epicenter of scientific exploration!
For the second consecutive year in collaboration with the Brillas Foundation, Lab4U has opened doors to quality STEM education for over 300 students in Villavicencio and Pachaquiaro through the Experiment at School Program “Experimenta en tu Colegio” in Colombia.
Dedicated to nurturing future professionals, the Brillas Foundation, partnering with Lab4U, strives to enhance access to scientific education for students at the INEM Luis Lopez de Mesa schools and the Santa Teresa de Pachaquiaro Educational Institution. This initiative benefits more than 300 students and 6 teachers, providing access to Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories, tools and educational content.
This program empowers both educational communities to foster experimentation using the inquiry methodology. Teachers actively engage in inspiring children and young people to pursue STEM careers, contributing to the development of skills required in the 21st century. It shapes change agents who will enter the workforce with enhanced opportunities.
“After 18 months of implementation, we want to highlight the impact of Lab4U on participating teachers, who’ve felt motivated to step out of their comfort zones and apply Lab4U’s innovative structure and tools to improve their labs. This undoubtedly eases the transition between the traditional way of teaching sciences and the way we envision sciences could be learned.”, Lina Sánchez, Director of the Brillas Foundation.
In implementing the program, students participate in diverse experimentation sessions, honing skills, scientific research processes, and knowledge around key scientific concepts. The participating faculty receive ongoing support from the Lab4U team, including technical-pedagogical assistance, training, monitoring, accompaniment, and progress reports.
Komal Dadlani, CEO and Co-founder at Lab4U, sees the “Experiment at School” Project as a groundbreaking opportunity to impact and change education in Colombia. She hopes that students experimenting with Lab4U apps will be inspired to pursue careers in science and technology, given the increasing demand in STEM-related fields by 2050.
Lab4U, in collaboration with Colegio Alberto Blest Gana (ABG), has been at the forefront of revolutionizing classroom education for the past seven years. The ABG, with five participating teachers in physics, chemistry, and biology, boasts over 800 students ranging from 7th grade to IV year.
Since 2013, Lab4U has been reshaping classroom teaching with a technological proposal that transforms any smartphone or tablet into a portable laboratory. This innovative approach caters to students’ needs in an engaging and modern way, utilizing the built-in sensors of mobile devices to convert them into powerful scientific tools.
Komal Dadlani, Co-founder of Lab4U, emphasized the importance of promoting scientific education in meeting future professional demands. According to the UN’s estimation, by 2050, 75% of jobs will be related to STEM fields. However, current figures indicate that only 20% of students choose STEM careers, with a mere 7% of undergraduate STEM students being women in Chile. Dadlani highlighted the urgency to bridge this gap to meet industry demand, avoid gender disparities, and keep pace with more developed countries in the field.
Dadlani emphasized the need to expand the reach of programs like the one conducted with Colegio Alberto Blest Gana to include more institutions. “Experimentation is key to acquiring deep and lasting knowledge in sciences. This partnership aligned from the start with the educational objectives of ABG, working as partners to revolutionize teaching and learning. We’ve seen excellent results. The aim is to make STEM careers accessible to all,” she stated.
As part of a comprehensive solution, Lab4U provides a portal where teachers can access experimental content aligned with the educational curriculum, focusing on industry and workforce needs for the coming decades. They are actively developing new pedagogical resources, including assessments, exercises, and skill-building for scientific research through Artificial Intelligence to enhance the development of students participating in their programs across Chile and Latin America.
In collaboration with 3M, Lab4U has opened doors to quality STEM education for over 150 students at the Colegio Quellón in Chiloé.
Committed to developing future professionals, 3M strives to improve access to scientific education for students at Colegio Quellón through the Lab4U program. This initiative benefits over 150 students and 2 teachers, providing them with access to Physics, Chemistry, and Biology laboratories, tools, and educational content.
Throughout 2023, the program has fostered scientific learning through inquiry-based methodology and experimentation. Teachers actively engage in inspiring children and young people to pursue STEM careers, contributing to the development of skills required in the 21st century. Forming change agents who will enter the workforce with enhanced opportunities is essential for our students to access more and better.
Empowering change agents to enter the workforce with enhanced opportunities is crucial for our students to access more and better professional prospects. We provide them with STEM skills and an innovative mindset, preparing them to face future challenges and lead transformations in society. This approach not only benefits individuals but also drives technological advancements and creative solutions to global problems, contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic job market locally and internationally.
Komal Dadlani, CEO and Co-founder of Lab4U, sees the project as an innovative opportunity to impact and change education in the city of Quellón, Chiloé, Chile. “Bringing science to isolated communities is crucial to democratize access to more opportunities and empower local talent, connecting Chiloé with the world of STEM. We are forging paths that allow every student to venture into uncharted territories, overcome challenges, and evolve as creative and innovative minds within the captivating universe of STEM.”
In implementing the program, students participate in various experimentation sessions, refining skills, scientific research processes, and knowledge around key scientific concepts. Participating faculty receive ongoing support from the Lab4U team, including technical-pedagogical assistance, training, monitoring, accompaniment, and progress reports.
Join Lab4U in building a bright STEM future! Drive change and innovation by supporting educational programs focused on forming change agents. Discover how you can contribute to improving opportunities for our students and their future careers, and be part of the STEM revolution.
In the ever-evolving landscape of educational technology, Lab4U makes a difference by transforming conventional classrooms into dynamic scientific laboratories. Over the past three years, the fruitful collaboration with Lincoln International Academy has not only revolutionized teaching methods but has also positioned the institution as a benchmark for STEM education in Chile.
The partnership with Lincoln International Academy involves the implementation of Lab4U tools for in-class experimentation, coupled with comprehensive support for the teaching team. This year, during the Science Week, a joint activity took center stage: a project to build propeller cars. Students competed to construct the fastest car, integrating Lab4U’s speedometer to reinforce physics concepts.
Throughout three years, the collaboration has extended its impact to both campuses of Lincoln International Academy in Lo Barnechea and Chicureo. With eight and twelve courses benefiting from the program respectively, a total of ten teachers actively participated in shaping the scientific landscape for students.
John Seaquist, Director of Lincoln International Academy, emphasizes the significant improvements observed by incorporating Lab4U’s educational solution into the institution. “As an establishment, we consider it fundamental to enhance science learning among students; it’s part of our purpose. That’s why we value the work done with Lab4U on this path. The initiative has driven us to expand interest in scientific knowledge and strengthen our offering in line with the Chilean curriculum, always with active participation from students and faculty,” he comments.
As part of a comprehensive solution, Lab4U provides a portal where teachers can access experimental content aligned with the educational curriculum, along with new pedagogical resources, including assessments, exercises, and the development of scientific research skills through Artificial Intelligence. The goal is to empower and motivate students in their approach to the sciences.
For Komal Dadlani, Co-founder of Lab4U, “Experimentation is key to acquiring deep and lasting knowledge in sciences. Moreover, this alliance aligned from the start with the educational objectives of Lincoln International Academy, and we worked as partners to revolutionize teaching and learning. We achieved excellent results, and in the future, we hope to replicate it in more institutions to disseminate STEM industries and themes,” she says.
The collaborative STEM Americas initiative, championed by Boeing and PADF in partnership with Lab4U, enriched the educational experience of over 400 students from Querétaro and Baja California, Mexico. Across the whole 2023, five dedicated teachers from five schools, spearheaded a scientific project with a special focus on aerospace studies.
In this third version of the STEM Americas program, students from CBTIS-278, CECYTEBC Plantel Las Águilas, CECYTEBC Plantel Ensenada, CECYTEBC Plantel Compuertas and Escuela de Bachilleres UAQ Plantel Sur actively engaged in numerous hands-on experimentation sessions facilitated by Lab4U applications. The program, generously supported by Boeing and PADF, provided access to educational materials centered around inquiry-based learning. Teachers received ongoing training and support, ensuring a seamless integration of these resources into their science curriculum.
Expressing delight and pride, Komal Dadlani, Co-founder and CEO at Lab4U, remarked, ‘We are thrilled to once again execute the STEM Americas program in collaboration with PADF and with the support of Boeing. This initiative plays a crucial role in motivating Mexican students to explore the wonders of science. STEM education is paramount for cultivating the talent required in the 21st century, and a program with an aerospace emphasis encourages young minds to envision professional opportunities within this industry.’
The STEM Americas curriculum focused on Physics experiments, leveraging unlimited access to Lab4U App tools and pedagogical materials in alignment with the educational institutions’ curricula. Through experimentation sessions teachers facilitated profound, practical, and meaningful learning experiences, fostering students’ interest and involvement in science and technology.
Beyond the classroom, 33 of the students participated in a Science Fair in Querétaro and Baja California during November. They showcased 10 aerospace-themed scientific projects, applying STEM methodology and Lab4U tools to address local challenges. In preparation for the fair, both schools engaged in training bootcamps, originating and refining scientific projects and perfecting the art of the ‘elevator pitch’ for project presentations.
Anticipating the emergence of future trailblazers akin to Einstein or Marie Curie from Mexico, we are overjoyed to witness the profound impact of this initiative on students’ scientific development!
At Lab4U, we’ve launched our new Exercise feature. Test your knowledge with quizzes as many times as you want, and aspire to be the next Marie Curie or Albert Einstein. Learning requires dedication and effective strategies. One of the best strategies for understanding scientific concepts and facts is constant practice. Here are some benefits:
Practical Application of Knowledge: Answering questions means more than just remembering information; it involves effective application. Questions come in various formats, challenging you to think critically and adapt your knowledge to diverse situations. This prepares you for complex scientific challenges and real-time problem-solving.
Identifying Knowledge Gaps: When you can’t answer questions successfully, it’s a clear sign of gaps in your understanding. These gaps are learning opportunities. Identify where you struggle to focus your study efforts on those areas, optimizing your study time.
Boosting Confidence: Confidence is vital in learning. Constantly facing and correctly answering questions boosts your confidence in your abilities. This confidence motivates continued study and a positive, proactive approach to scientific content.
Preparation for Assessments: Ultimately, learning scientific content aims to demonstrate knowledge in assessments and exams. Regular question practice equips you with tools for better test preparation. In Chile, the PAES (Test for Access to Higher Education) is essential, and our app includes questions in a similar format to help you practice. That’s why at Lab4U, we’ve introduced the Exercise section in our app. It allows you to practice your knowledge as much as you like. Here, you’ll find quizzes with general knowledge questions about experimental sciences (Physics, Biology, and Chemistry) and scientific research skills. Regular question practice is an essential strategy for tackling scientific content effectively. It strengthens memory, enhances knowledge application, and prepares you for future challenges. Additionally, each quiz question comes with feedback, complementing your study. By integrating this strategy into your study routine, you’ll be on the path to mastering scientific content with confidence and success.
Bibliography
Roediger III, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in cognitive sciences, 15(1), 20-27.
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58.
Bjork, R. A., Dunlosky, J., & Kornell, N. (2013). Self-regulated learning: Beliefs, techniques, and illusions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 417-444.
Throughout history women have made significant contributions to science, yet many of their achievements have been ignored or overshadowed by their male counterparts, with some of these women even having to pose as men making contributions under male pseudonyms.
Luckily, during the recent years, it has been possible to make visible the relevant work that many women have done in scientific matters. This is why, we will highlight seven contemporary women who have made innovative contributions in their respective fields, demonstrating with their work that there are female referents in STEM issues that have been able to contribute and make a difference, and that today, it is imperative to highlight in order to inspire the new generations.
Jennifer Doudna is a biochemist and winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, her contributions as co-inventor of the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize medicine and agriculture by allowing scientists to edit genes with unprecedented precision. Doudna’s work has given her numerous awards, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Japan Prize.
What disease would you like to cure by applying Jennifer Doudna’s invention?
Katie Bouman is a computer scientist whose work was instrumental in capturing the first image of a black hole. Bouman developed an algorithm that allowed the image to be created using data collected by telescopes around the world. Her contributions were crucial to the success of the project and have opened new avenues for the study of the universe.
In the past, women around the world were prevented from accessing formal education. However, this situation still occurs today in some places. What effect do you think it could have for the advancement of science the fact that many women cannot access education yet?
May-Britt Moser is a neuroscientist who, together with Edvard Moser, discovered grid cells, specialized neurons that help us know our position in space. Thanks to her work, new findings have been revealed about how the brain processes spatial information, which has important implications for the understanding of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Moser’s contributions to neuroscience have earned her numerous awards, including the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Do you think May-Britt Moser’s contributions are less relevant than those of her research partner? How do you think people would have answered the above question in the 19th century?
Tu Youyou is a Chinese pharmaceutical chemist who discovered artemisinin, a drug that has saved millions of lives by treating malaria. Youyou’s work has been credited with significantly reducing the death rates from this deadly disease. Her contributions to medicine earned her the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Youyou did it through medicine. And you, in what way or in what area do you imagine yourself influencing other people’s lives? How would you face the obstacles that might arise in order to achieve that dream?
Fabiola Gianotti is a particle physicist who, in 2012, was the spokesperson for the team that discovered the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle that helps explain the origins of mass in the universe. Her work at CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the universe.
Fabiola had the role of communicating the results of the research she carried out together with her team. How many times have you taken and/or been assigned a similar role in a work team? How did you feel when representing your team in public?
María Teresa Ruiz is a Chilean astronomer who has carried out important research in the field of star and planet formation; discovering, among other things, a supernova at the moment of exploding. In 1984, she became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in astronomy from Princeton University.
In addition to her work as a researcher, Ruiz has been an active advocate for science education and gender equality in her country. She has received many awards and recognitions for her work, including the Chilean National Exact Science Award in 1997 and the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science in 2017.
Cecilia Hidalgo is a Chilean biochemist who has been recognized for her work in the investigation of signal transmission in cells and its relationship with diseases such as Alzheimer’s. She is the first Chilean woman to obtain a Doctor of Science degree from the University in 1970. Since then, she has worked in research and teaching at her alma mater and at other universities in Chile and abroad.
Hidalgo has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including the Chilean National Natural Science Award in 2006 and the “Poncela” International Award for Research in Aging in 2019. In addition to her work as a researcher, Hidalgo has also been a leader in the promotion of education and gender equality in science in Chile.
How would you describe the contribution of these Chileans to local and international science?
These seven women are just a few examples of the many important contributions that women have made to science in recent years. Their groundbreaking work has advanced our understanding of the universe, revolutionized medicine, and paved the way for future generations of women in science. It is important that we continue to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women in science and work to remove the barriers and gaps that have historically prevented them from fully participating in scientific research.
At Lab4U we believe that you, the girl, teenager or woman reading this, can be the next scientist to revolutionize science or technology!
The NorTEduca Program was sponsored by SQM and tried to promote the use of educational technology, innovative methodologies, training, materials, didactic strategies, and support for parents and teachers in the field by creating a learning community that seeks to promote in male and female students, the benefits of studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.
Thanks to NorTEduca we were able to impact more than a thousand families from 7 schools: William Taylor Bicentennial Methodist High School, Sergio González Gutiérrez Mayor High School, La Tirana Elementary School, Oscar Bonilla High School, D-133 Arturo Pérez Canto de María Elena School, Diego Portales High School and the Carlos Condell de Tocopilla School; and included two stages: “Grow by Doing”, oriented to Preschool and Elementary Education and executed by the VOA Foundation and a second phase implemented by Lab4U.
The first stage, “Grow by Doing”, implemented by Fundación VOA, promoted the learning and development of reading skills in pre-school students, and the development of mathematical thinking skills, from 1st to 4th grade.
During the Lab4U stage, we carried out different activities with a practical approach, where the students were able to use the Lab4Physics, Lab4Chemistry and Lab4Biology apps from Lab4U to do scientific experiments and learn more deeply about science in the classroom.
“We are very happy with the results obtained by the NorTEduca Program, which through the strategic alliance between our company, Lab4U and VOA and the town administrations which are close to our operation facilitites in the north of the country, allowed us to collaboratively promote an innovative methodology of learning whose main attribute involves the entire educational community. This initiative, which is in line with our commitment to contribute to education, seeks to contribute, from an early age and at different levels, to a more equitable education and with a focus on the development of critical thinking that allows students to be interested in the math, science, technology, and research”. Pablo Pisani, SQM North Zone Nitrates Iodine and Public Affairs Manager of Communities.
“In addition, and to reinforce the practical activities, SQM donated 14 tablets to the Oscar Bonilla high school, equipment that allowed the students of this institution to experiment with the Lab4U apps.“We trust that NorTEduca is the beginning of a great change that we want to generate to increase student interest and performance in science and technology. Today in many industries and countries these are some of the most demanded specialties, which is why it is important that we help promote 21st century skills and position them as an attractive alternative for future generations. It is essential to promote the generation of talent in the north of our country, both for the mining industry and for the rest of the industries that will demand complete professionals and greater specialization in scientific issues”, Komal Dadlani, CEO and co-founder of Lab4U.
Thanks to the work of Lab4U, the students and teachers participating in the program were able to get closer to technology and science with innovative methodologies, training, materials and teaching strategies. Thus, young people learned about the benefits of opting for STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and we were able to impact their expectations and future professional development.
The initiative seeks to promote gender equality, the development of STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the use of technological tools among students.
Today only 15% of women in the world take careers in technology or science. The figure is even more discouraging in Chile, where the female representation is only 7%.
That is why the STEM+Gender Program that Lab4U carries out in partnership with Escondida | BHP seeks to transform science learning in children and adolescents, encouraging the development of future scientists, men and women, engineers, and STEM change agents in our society, achieving a direct impact on the future workforce, mainly of female students from Antofagasta. Hence, increasing, empowering and inspiring them in their science and technology learning, with the aim of contributing to the reduction of the existing gender gap in the various industries.
Thus, both institutions work in collaboration after identifying great coincidences in their social purposes: Escondida | BHP aims to encourage the participation of women in STEM areas and thus achieving a representation of 50% of women within the company before 2025. Meanwhile, Lab4U seeks to promote STEM education for girls and boys to break down learning and gender gaps in the schools, society and the future of work.
During the development of the program, the children participate in specialized instances on equity and empowerment of women in STEM with various face-to-face activities that address conversations and instances of empowerment, invitation of collaborators from Escondida | BHP, field trips and STEM experiments or challenges.
Liceo Bicentenario Marta Narea Díaz
In terms of figures, in addition to the 150 benefited girls, we expect to impact more than 300 students will in favor of raising awareness of women in STEM; girls will have access to 45 face-to-face hours in STEM areas and the 3 selected teachers from the Liceo Bicentenario Marta Narea Díaz, The Antofagasta Baptist College and the Mario Bahamondes Silva High School, will have hours of training for teachers in experimentation and gender perspective.
The Antofagasta Baptist College
Mira este video de nuestra visita en Antofagasta:
As a result, the STEM + Gender Program seeks to achieve a direct impact on the greater motivation and interest of girls to pursue STEM careers in local Antofagasta institutions, in the teachers who will have training and empowerment to train their students using didactic, technological and peer strategies; and in the community, which will strengthen the relation with Escondida | BHP creating a STEM education guarantee seal.
Mario Bahamondes Silva
“As a company we promote this program that in a playful way seeks to attract the attention of many young people who are looking for their future profession. It is an invitation to break paradigms to advance gender equality and dare to discover careers that are a source of innovation, sustainability and leadership in the world of work”, says Elizabeth Cameron
Corporate Affairs Specialist, Escondida | BHP.
To learn more about this program, we invite you to visit our Instagram, where you will find an audiovisual record of the different instances of this initiative. If you want to generate an impact in your community through STEM, write to us! [email protected]
Both companies are proud to announce the launch of “ExperimEntel,” a pilot project to promote STEM skill development in young people across four Belén Educa Foundation schools.
Entel and Lab4U are two companies famous for their innovation and commitment to social impact through education. Therefore, this partnership is a natural one of aligned values for the future. The program will share Lab4Physics, Lab4Chemistry, and Lab4Biology with more than 400 students and six teachers across the San Francisco de Asís, Lorenzo Sazié, Arzobispo Crescente Errázuriz and Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez schools, all of which are part of the Belén Educa Foundation. Students and teachers can then use the tools to facilitate on-site and at-home experimentation. Each Lab4U exercise promotes a methodological approach to inquiry, which in turn positively affects student learning, as proven by the IDB.
Students of Colegio Arzobispo Crescente Errazuriz conducting the experiment “New Year Lights”
In recent years, the paradigm of how science is taught and learned has changed. With this project, Entel and Lab4U will address the importance of promoting STEM skill development in young people and, by extension, will grow scientific literacy in our educational communities. As a result, the pilot project “ExperimEntel” will also foster a more widespread development of 21st-century skills that will be critical for finding solutions to the challenges of the future.
“It’s important to support and promote initiatives that encourage science and technology education, especially for young people, as they are strengths that will be crucial to further technological advancements. The good news is that children are showing a lot of interest in expanding their knowledge in these disciplines, because they understand they are an important part of the future”.
Jimena del Valle, Director of sustainability at Entel
To commemorate ExperimEntel’s launch, Lorenzo Sazié School held the “Let’s Live Science” event on Thursday, October 28. Attendees included four of the school’s teachers and twenty students, as well as the Entel, Lab4U, and Fundación Belén Educa teams, including all 16 Belén Educa professors from various institutions.
During the event, participants were split into two groups: in the first, Professor Javier Baeza from Lab4U led the students and Belén Educa teachers in a “Measure and See Science” activity; in the second, Professor Katherinne Rojas taught Lab4U’s camera tool and colorimeter to the remaining teachers. In the end, all participants reunited for a final reflection and to give a few words of thanks.
Teachers of Fundación Belén Educa performing the activity “Measure and See Science.”
Students from Colegio San Francisco de Asís using the Lab4Chemistry’s Colorimeter tool
“At Lab4U, we are proud to partner with Entel’s talented team, which regularly supports the training of young people and teachers at Belén Educa Foundation. Together, we hope to continue to inspire future agents of change through innovation, science, and technology in our country”.
CEO & Co-founder Lab4U, Komal Dadlani
We invite you to join us in making access to STEM education universal and take an active role in transforming our society for the better.
