Reaching future safety scientists in middle and high school to make the world a safer place
Our open-access education platform Xplorlabs allows students to explore real-world phenomena based on ULRI’s expert research. Through use of Xplorlabs, OREE facilitates partnerships between teachers and community educators, including fire professionals, in their own neighborhoods.
We also host teacher fellowship opportunities for educators across the country to access ULRI safety science-focused research that can be taught in their classrooms. The fellows offer valuable feedback on Xplorlabs content and pedagogy throughout their yearlong fellowship and serve as longtime advocates for safety science and sustainability teaching.
Creating on-ramps into safety and sustainability science for high school to graduate students
OREE’s work with post-secondary classrooms and communities focuses on access to opportunity into safety and sustainability science for high school to graduate students. When post-secondary students encounter the world of safety science for the first time as a high school student-intern, undergraduate engineer, or postdoctoral student, they’re uplifted and accompanied in their journey through OREE’s programs.
Our work across the career readiness and higher education continuum ensures that underrepresented students can access the STEM opportunities available to them and feel supported and encouraged in those roles, no matter when their STEM journey begins — empowering them to persist in safety science careers.
Leading rigorous professional support and engagement for students, interns, fellows, and early career professionals at ULRI and ULSE
OREE leads rigorous professional support for students from high school through graduate school who enter UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement as interns, fellows, and early career professionals. By supporting career advancement and professional growth, we’re preparing and advocating for the next cohort of safety scientists.
With the 2023 pilot launch of OREE’s Intern Engagement Initiative, interns and early career professionals who join the organization are supported and engaged through professional development opportunities, mentorship, and connection building.
Our research experiences team also collaborates with the institutes and offices to recruit well-qualified interns, engage them throughout their internship, and works to hire them as full-time employees.
Research and program evaluation are the engines behind innovation in safety science education
Education research and evaluation are the foundation of our work, and drive innovation across OREE’s programming. In our education research, we study the systems and human interactions that shape safety science learning. This research illuminates real-world solutions across communities, and points to opportunities for new educational programming. Our program evaluation informs the design and ongoing reimagining of OREE’s K-20+ programs. One area of ongoing primary research focuses on young people’s perspectives on STEM internships and career training, which will help shape the experiences of safety science professionals emerging in the field.
The Education and Outreach team consistently attends events or produces content to expand our outreach efforts and maintain communication with our key stakeholders. Register for an upcoming webinar or connect with our team members at an upcoming event.
