Educators
Highlights
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) National Conference
Anaheim, California - April 2026
In April, Xplorlabs Educator Fellows traveled to Anaheim, California, to attend the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) conference. The experience provided opportunities for professional development, collaboration, and reflection as fellows celebrated their accomplishments and completed their fellowship activities.
During the conference, fellows attended NSTA sessions aligned with their individual professional interests, participated in Xplorlabs programming, and heard from fellow educators about bringing real-world safety science into their classrooms.
Penn Engineering also hosted a lunch and meeting focused on carrying lessons from NSTA and the fellowship forward beyond the program.
ULRI Annual Symposium
Chicago, Illinois - July 2026
In July, Xplorlabs Educator Fellows traveled to Chicago for the UL Research Institutes Symposium, bringing together returning and incoming fellows for several days of learning, collaboration, and community building. Following the symposium, two days were dedicated to Xplorlabs programming and provided an opportunity for fellows to connect across cohorts.
While in Chicago, fellows also visited the Chicago Fire Department and experienced the city from the water during a boat tour, extending the experience beyond the symposium and providing additional opportunities to learn, explore, and connect as a community.
Explore Penn Engineering
GRASP Lab Tours and Other K-12 Resorces
Explore robotics and engineering at Penn through a tour of the GRASP Laboratory. Tours provide students and educators with an opportunity to learn more about robotics research and see how engineering concepts are applied beyond the classroom.
Explore Penn Engineering
Interested in exploring areas of engineering beyond robotics? Educators can submit a request through our Outreach Collaboration Form to inquire about other Penn Engineering tours/opportunities that align with their students’ interests.
IoT4Ag Research Experience for Teachers (RET)
Bringing AgTech Research into the Classroom
The IoT4Ag Research Experience for Teachers (RET) is a four-week immersive summer program for in-service educators interested in exploring Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in agriculture.
Educators work alongside IoT4Ag researchers to explore how AgTech innovations can address real-world challenges in food, energy, water, and sustainability. Participants translate their experiences into classroom-ready resources, including standards-aligned lesson plans, while gaining firsthand exposure to engineering research at Penn.