MdBio Foundation changes name to Learning Undefeated amid national expansion

In a move to reflect the reach into more states it has gained in recent years, MdBio Foundation unveiled a rebrand as Learning Undefeated on Tuesday.

Over the past two decades we’ve extended our reach — growing into new states and transforming to meet the needs of tomorrow’s #STEM innovators. Find out more at https://t.co/uu6BjW3t60 #STEMeducation #LearningUndefeated pic.twitter.com/ZMUrawAAuX

— Learning Undefeated (@LearningUNDFTD) January 29, 2019

Fifteen years ago, the Gaithersburg-based organization launched its mobile bioscience lab to visit high schools offering access to tech tools and STEM education. In 2016, it introduced a Mobile eXploration Lab equipped to offer chemistry, cybersecurity, VR and more.

The lab has been logging miles beyond Maryland, and teaching lessons beyond bio. Now the name is catching up.

“We’ve seen first-hand how the Maryland communities we visit and students we teach have blossomed from gaining hands-on experience in our lab and a greater understanding about career possibilities they may have never considered,” said Brian Gaines, CEO of Learning Undefeated, said in a statement. “More recently, working in communities outside our traditional borders, we realized that we have a great opportunity to expand our reach and bring our proven immersive STEM program to even more schools nationwide.”

Initially heading to schools around Maryland, expansion beyond the state got a boost in 2016 when the organization received a $1.36 million grant from Verizon to operate in D.C. public schools. The next year, the lab then hit the road to Texas, where the foundation set out to help schools affected by Hurricane Harvey between Corpus Christi and Houston. It’s since expanded work in Texas through offering the mobile lab in Houston. With $1.25M in grant funding from the  Rebuild Texas Fund, the organization is creating Drop Anywhere Labs that offer education in repurposed shipping containers.   The organization also worked in California, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.

Meanwhile, the mobile labs continue to visit schools in Baltimore, with seven different school visits planned this school year.

In all, the programming serves 25,000 students per year, according to the organization.