The new complex brings university-level facilities and technology to A.D. Henderson University School (ADHUS) and Florida Atlantic University High School, with the goal of scaling science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to all students, according to a recent university news release.
FAU Lab Schools like ADHUS and FAU High are university-sponsored public K-12 schools emphasizing dual enrollment and college readiness. According to the Lab Schools website, the typical FAU High School graduate completes three years of college credit, and some earn bachelor’s degrees before finishing high school.
ADHUS, which serves elementary and middle grades, opened in 1968 as a research laboratory school. FAU High School came along in 2004 as its counterpart.
While the original campus supported research-driven K-12 instruction, the modernized iteration introduces new and expanded facilities for hands-on education.
“Our faculty and staff are the architects of signature student experiences,” Joel Herbst, FAU Lab Schools superintendent, said in a public statement. “They make learning sticky by taking students on extraordinary journeys of discovery — into archaeological dig sites, through Da Vinci-inspired design studios, beneath the surface of the world’s oceans, and into neuroscience labs where they peer through a confocal microscope to unlock the secrets of a single cell.”
Students now have access to labs equipped for imaging, ocean science projects, neuroscience studies and simulated medical procedures, according to the university. These support activities like examining biological samples, working with marine sensors and practicing surgical techniques on produce as part of introductory biomedical lessons.
The campus also introduces expanded engineering and technology areas. Students can design and test robotics projects, work with small alternative-fuel vehicles, and train in flight and drone rooms. A rapid prototyping area provides 3D printers, laser cutters and a hydrogel printer, letting students produce parts for research projects on-site.
High-performance computing resources, including a lab space, give students access to tools for data-intensive work. According to the university, this includes the ability to run computational models and analyze large data sets generated in science and engineering courses.
Other additions include an archaeological dig site and a robotics-supported agricultural area where students can test drone surveying and do plant science activities. The athletic and aquatic facilities were also replaced, with new spaces for physical education and international marine robotics competitions.
The updates were made possible in part by statehouse support, including a $2 million state budget appropriation to create the Center for Educational Strategy and Innovation.
“We are future-proofing education by looking to industry and the cutting edge of science to prepare students for what they must be ready to do now — and in the future,” Herbst said.
