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Portable Innovation Lab Hubs

Powered by PAST and in partnership with Battelle, our Portable Innovation Labs are designed to facilitate unique educational opportunities by providing teachers and students with the resources that schools may not be able to purchase on their own.

OSLN Akron Hub

The Akron OSLN Hub is proud to function as a key distribution center for the PAST Foundation's Portable Innovation Labs. This strategic initiative aims to democratize access to robust STEM resources across Ohio, ensuring that every student, regardless of location, can cultivate a strong STEM identity. The Portable Innovation Labs are designed to empower educators with free, high-quality resources that can be seamlessly integrated into their classrooms, fostering an environment of inquiry, problem-based learning, and design thinking.


Each distribution hub, including the Akron OSLN Hub, may hold a unique inventory of Portable Innovation Labs. Therefore, we encourage educators to consider their specific needs and the available resources at their chosen location. Our ultimate goal is to make STEM education more accessible and engaging, and we believe that our Portable Innovation Labs are a significant step towards achieving this vision.

Columbus Metropolitan Library

The PAST Foundation is excited to introduce a new resource for library staff: the Portable Innovation Labs. This initiative is designed to enhance the educational experiences of students visiting the library by providing access to cutting-edge STEM resources.


The Portable Innovation Labs are comprehensive labs that library staff can borrow to engage students in hands-on STEM learning. These labs are equipped with tools and materials that support inquiry-based learning and the PAST Foundation's Design Cycle, including phases such as Brainstorm, Design, Build, Evaluate, Modify, and Share. The labs are intended to foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking among students, aligning with the library's mission to inspire a lifelong passion for reading and learning.
These labs are a testament to the library's commitment to providing equitable access to educational resources and supporting the development of a strong STEM identity in students across the region.


By integrating the Portable Innovation Labs into library programming, staff can create dynamic learning environments that resonate with the principles of Problem-Based Learning and Design Thinking. This initiative not only supports the library's educational goals but also strengthens its role as a space for community engagement and innovation.

**Only Columbus Library employees can rent from CML and utilize the labs at their branch location for programming.**

OSLN Dayton Hub

The Dayton OSLN Hub is proud to function as a key distribution center for the PAST Foundation's Portable Innovation Labs. This strategic initiative aims to democratize access to robust STEM resources across Ohio, ensuring that every student, regardless of location, can cultivate a strong STEM identity. The Portable Innovation Labs are designed to empower educators with free, high-quality resources that can be seamlessly integrated into their classrooms, fostering an environment of inquiry, problem-based learning, and design thinking.


Each distribution hub, including the Dayton OSLN Hub, may hold a unique inventory of Portable Innovation Labs. Therefore, we encourage educators to consider their specific needs and the available resources at their chosen location. Our ultimate goal is to make STEM education more accessible and engaging, and we believe that our Portable Innovation Labs are a significant step towards achieving this vision.

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