When BA and Mia first pitched the idea of creating STEMPlay Labs as a dedicated division within dfusion, I knew it was an All-Star idea.
As dfusion’s CEO and the Principal Investigator who launched our STEM and sports work with STEMadium and our Science of Sport collaboration, I’ve lived by one principle: research science shouldn’t stay trapped in journals. It should create tangible impact in people’s lives.
I’ve spent decades translating behavioral health research into technology that works—30+ NIH-funded studies, 35+ federally funded projects. I know what it takes to move from theory to real-world results. And I’ve seen firsthand how game-based learning transforms not just student performance, but student identity.
The data from our pilots was compelling: students using STEMadium and Fantasy Sports Math League didn’t just improve test scores—they fundamentally changed how they saw themselves. Kids who’d been told they’re “not math people” suddenly discovered they could analyze NFL statistics and calculate probabilities with confidence. That’s the kind of impact I will always champion!
Here’s why STEMPlay Labs needed to exist as its own division: with only 28% of 8th graders proficient in math and 31% in science, we’re facing a crisis that demands dedicated focus. The STEMPlay Labs team channels the winning energy to create research-backed, standards-aligned games that work to engage and motivate learners.
dfusion’s foundation in rigorous evaluation and evidence-based intervention design was the perfect launchpad. We don’t guess what works; we run randomized controlled trials. We measure impact systematically. Through STEMPlay Labs, we’re applying that same scientific rigor to prove that play-based learning isn’t a luxury—it’s essential.
I started this STEM education journey because I believe in meeting people where they are. For students, that means connecting what they love with what they need to learn. STEMPlay Labs is that vision, fully realized—research science fused with technology to impact young lives every day.
—Tamara Kuhn, CEO, dfusion