The Story of Learning Undefeated 

Imagine being at the forefront of a massive STEM education wave that would shape a state, a region, and a nation. Learning Undefeated has been driving equity in STEM since 1991 through immersive and deep-impact learning experiences for students from historically marginalized communities. The nonprofit’s innovative approach to education is embedded in the very DNA of this organization with deep roots in biotech innovation.

Read more about us in our 2023 Annual Report

Four decades ago, biomanufacturing brought untapped economic opportunities to a region already well-known for medical research and discovery. Created as the Maryland Bioprocessing Center (later renamed MdBio Foundation), this organization was formed to help nurture biomanufacturing startups and to grow Maryland’s reputation as a center of biotech innovation. Revenue was reinvested into development and promotion of Maryland’s commercial bioscience industry and later expanded to raise awareness of biotech careers among students, parents, and teachers. In 2003, the organization then known as MdBio founded its first traveling bioscience laboratory (MdBioLab) and began visiting Maryland high schools with the goal to help students choose to stay, study, and work in Maryland.

Cross-County Expansion

After 17 successful school years, MdBioLab was supplemented by the addition of the country’s largest mobile STEM lab for education, the Mobile eXploration Lab. Just as organization leaders were considering putting MdBioLab into storage, Learning Undefeated learned of a need for portable laboratory space in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The damaging storm had had destroyed and flooded hundreds of schools across the Coastal Bend region of the Lone Star State.

Gathering a small amount of funding, Learning Undefeated sent MdBioLab to help schools in Texas. This act of kindness has led to a multi-year statewide program for the Texas Education Agency, which is expanding in 2025 from one traveling laboratory to nine. In 2019, the organization changed its name from MdBio to Learning Undefeated to better represent the national scope of its work.

The nonprofit now operates a fleet of mobile STEM education programs nationwide, impacting the lives of nearly 2 million students across all 50 states. Learning Undefeated’s custom-built mobile labs range from laboratory-grade spaces to immersive learning theaters, connecting students with meaningful STEM experiences and linking them to career pathways through hands-on content exploration, game-based learning, educator training, talent development, mobile laboratory design and build consulting, curriculum development and disaster recovery education.

Award-Winning Programs

Learning Undefeated has been recognized more than a dozen national and international awards, including three Educators’ Pick Best of STEM Awards in Social Impact: Promoting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Life Sciences categories.