Conducting experiments is crucial to understanding and engaging with science. That allows students to grasp abstract concepts, watch theories in action, and develop problem-solving skills. However, limited access to laboratory facilities in many schools, especially in underfunded areas, has challenged this essential component of science education, leaving students without the opportunity to perform experiments that make scientific concepts feel natural to them. Dr Khadija El Bedweihy recognised this gap and founded PraxiLabs, an EdTech company that uses virtual labs to improve students’ science experiences.
Through PraxiLabs, students can conduct experiments in a safe, accessible, and interactive virtual environment. That will bridge the gap left by the lack of physical labs and empower more learners with the tools they need to succeed in science.
Khadija El Bedweihy learnt to see education as the solution to every problem. She was born into a family of academicians who constantly debated how ‘the next big thing’ on the planet would revolve around education. Bedweihy got soaked up in this belief herself and had always been on the lookout for ways she could use technology to solve challenges in the education sector.
While studying at Cairo University and the United Kingdom, she noticed how essential laboratories were to science students. Yet, she observed that critical facilities in these labs often needed to be made available.
“After finishing my bachelor’s degree at Cairo University, where I was top of my class four years in a row, I went over to the UK for my PhD and was behind not because of my abilities or talents but because of a lack of resources. This was when I decided to set up a virtual lab to change things for science students around the world.” – Khadija El Bedweihy, Founder and CEO of PraxiLabs.
PraxiLabs. Revolutionising science
After finishing her PhD studies, the scientist returned to Egypt in 2014. She began intensive research on virtual labs and discovered that no one offered such solutions in her region then. So, in 2016, she started Praxilabs with her sisters Safiya and Alaa to solve the issue of lab access in the MENA region.
PraxiLabs is an EdTech company that creates virtual science labs. These labs allow students to experiment on a computer without needing actual lab equipment. The experiments include organic chemistry, biology, immunology, and microscopy.
It aims to help students learn science better by making these labs easy to use and affordable for schools. They also work closely with schools and universities that purchase and give the lab platform to students for free.
These digital spaces replicate real-world laboratory environments, allowing students to conduct experiments with just a few clicks. A science student from anywhere in the world can mix chemicals, observe reactions, and analyse data—all from their computer or tablet. That helps students who love science but may have otherwise been intimidated by the risks in a traditional lab setting.
Bedweihys’ mission with PraxiLabs is to redefine how students engage with science education and give every science student equal opportunities. The startup’s primarily targets schools, universities, and individual learners. Its user-friendly platform has attracted partnerships with various educational institutions, enabling them to incorporate virtual labs into their curricula.
Khadija El Bedweihy forey in Edtech
Currently, the virtual lab offers 200-plus experiments. It plans to expand the number of lab experiments and reach countries like Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Kenya, Indonesia, Singapore, the US, and Canada. They also have a native app that uses a third of the bandwidth other products use to support lower-bandwidth internet connections in regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Gulf.
Having achieved 80% learning retention, they have half a million users in various branches across many countries globally.
In 2021, the CEO and her company reached a defining moment when she took home the first-place prize in Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) competition, beating over 12,000 applicants across the continent.
This victory spotlighted her innovation and opened several minds to the potential of virtual labs in addressing the education gap in Africa. In 2023, she also won the Cartier Women’s Initiative for the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, her company has received over ten internationally recognised awards.
Through PraxiLabs, Khadija El Bedweihy and her team are changing education and empowering a new generation of scientists ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
