LabXchange recently reached an important milestone: Since its launch in 2020, over 50 million unique visitors worldwide have now engaged with free science education resources on LabXchange.
Everyone needs science. Science needs everyone. Inequitable access to education excludes much of the world from engaging with science. With support from the Amgen Foundation, LabXchange aims to change this. Demonstrating a global demand for learning opportunities, users across 234 countries and territories have responded by visiting LabXchange.
86% of LabXchange visitors are in lower income countries, and over 20 million are women and girls. Learn more about how users around the world engage with LabXchange and other science education programs supported by the Amgen Foundation.
Users from around the world have engaged with LabXchange, but those from the countries listed below (and seen in the map above) have shown an outsized interest in using science resources on the platform.
“Through LabXchange's powerful digital learning platform, I have been able to provide my students with interactive lab simulations, videos, and narratives that nurture my student’s curiosity in science,” shared middle school science teacher and LabXchange teacher-in-residence Kenneth Huff. “Helping all students develop an interest and identity in science is a big deal. I want my young adolescent learners to know that no matter who they are or where they are, science is for them.”
“We face several barriers in Nigeria, including limited access to technology for both students and teachers, challenges with infrastructure and power supply, high data costs, and the need for improved digital literacy. I appreciate that LabXchange gives children who are less privileged the opportunity to experiment and explore scientific concepts,” said Sola Adeola Amudipe, a STEM educator, school leader, and master teacher in the LabXchange Teacher Ambassador Program, an initiative which convenes middle and high school science educators from around the world for rigorous training and collaboration. (Interested in becoming a teacher ambassador? Fill out this inquiry form!).
With over 28,000 learning resources available and select content available in 19 languages, LabXchange complements in-person education to enhance science literacy and inspire the next generation of scientists—anywhere in the world. (Would you like to see your language represented on LabXchange? Submit our volunteer translator expression of interest!)
The Amgen Foundation is the founding and lead sponsor of LabXchange and, in addition to funding, the company’s staff actively participates in the initiative through an innovative corporate volunteering program. Virtual volunteering opportunities enable them to co-develop interactive learning resources and share personal career insights, contributing their time, expertise, and passion to enhance the depth and breadth of available resources.
“It has been an honor to volunteer with LabXchange over the past few years, creating education modules to develop and empower future scientists. Our children are the future of this world. It's not about what we can get out of them. It's about how we can empower them," shared Ashlie Cromer, Senior Medical Science Liaison (Cardiometabolic) at Amgen.
"We believe that everyone needs science, and that science needs everyone. In just four and a half years, LabXchange has successfully reached its moonshot goal of reaching over 50 million people online around the world," said Scott Heimlich, President of the Amgen Foundation. "By overcoming barriers of cost and geographical location, LabXchange is helping to level the playing field to ensure educators and learners everywhere have access to world-class science education resources free of charge.”
Interested in joining LabXchange’s mission to bring high-quality science education to everyone, everywhere? Learn how to use LabXchange, check out our Advocacy page for individuals, or find out how your organization can support LabXchange.
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September 17, 2024: Over 50 million unique visitors worldwide have engaged with free science education resources on LabXchange since its launch in 2020. An initiative of Harvard University’s Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning, LabXchange gives learners and educators everywhere access to high-quality, interactive science resources–at no cost.
Inequitable access to education excludes much of the world from engaging with science. With support from the Amgen Foundation, LabXchange aims to change this. Demonstrating global demand for learning opportunities, users in 234 countries and territories visited LabXchange. 86% of LabXchange visitors were in lower income countries, and over 20 million were women and girls. In addition to the USA, LabXchange was most frequently visited in South Asia (including India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh) and North Africa (including Egypt and Algeria).
“We face several barriers in Nigeria, including limited access to technology for both students and teachers, challenges with infrastructure and power supply, high data costs, and the need for improved digital literacy. I appreciate LabXchange for giving children who are less privileged the opportunity to experiment and explore scientific concepts,” said Sola Adeola Amudipe, a STEM educator, school leader, and master teacher in the LabXchange Teacher Ambassador Program.
With over 29,000 learning resources available and select content available in 19 languages, LabXchange complements in-person education to inspire the next generation of scientists–anywhere in the world. Additionally, the LabXchange Teacher Ambassador Program convenes middle and high school science educators from around the world for rigorous training and collaboration.
“When the Amgen Foundation announced its $30 million commitment to LabXchange in 2022, we were proud to support the goal of reaching 50 million unique visitors to the LabXchange platform by 2025. At the time, it was felt this was right on the edge of achievability, which makes reaching this milestone in 2024 even more impressive," said Esteban Santos, EVP, Operations, Amgen.
“LabXchange is proud to have reached the milestone of 50 million global users,” said Gaurav Vazirani, managing director of LabXchange. “Every individual user represents a learning opportunity for us, as we work to meet the needs of every learner or educator, anywhere in the world.”
For more information, visit www.labxchange.org.
About LabXchange
LabXchange is an online science education platform that provides users with access to high-quality science education, personalized instruction, online lab experiences, and networking opportunities across the global scientific community at no cost. To learn more about this initiative, visit www.labxchange.org.
About the Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation is inspiring the next generation of scientists and future problem solvers – wherever they are. We are engaging students with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to harness the full potential of science to solve tomorrow's toughest challenges. Working in partnership with local and global partners, we are providing best-in-class science education at no cost to students. To date, the Foundation has donated over $450 million to local, regional, and international non-profit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. The Amgen Foundation brings the excitement of discovery to the scientists of tomorrow through its signature programs, including LabXchange, Amgen Scholars, and the Amgen Biotech Experience. For more information, visit www.AmgenFoundation.org and follow us on LinkedIn.
About the Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning, Harvard University
The Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning seeks to shape the future of education by discovering new ways to build the competence, curiosity, and confidence of learners on our campuses and around the world. We create engaging and scalable learning experiences, cultivate inspiring ideas, and connect a global community of learners—while developing tools, technologies, platforms, and policies to reduce friction throughout the learning lifecycle.
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