Where Exploration Meets Opportunity: Celebrating the National Geographic Learning Launchpad Powered by Cengage
In anticipation of the grand opening of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration in Washington, D.C. this week, the National Geographic Society and Cengage came together to celebrate a space designed to inspire the next generation of learners.
Cengage CEO Michael Hansen and Chief Digital Officer Darren Person joined National Geographic Society leaders Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO; Deborah Grayson, Chief Education Officer; and Kara Ramirez Mullins, Chief Advancement Officer, to officially open the National Geographic Learning Launchpad Powered by Cengage. The moment was not just a celebration of the Learning Launchpad itself, but also of the nearly 15-year partnership between Cengage and the National Geographic Society through National Geographic Learning, a partnership rooted in the belief that education should spark curiosity, build confidence and connect learning to opportunity.
Attendees first gathered for a ribbon-cutting to officially open the space. Then, the magic bookcase opened to reveal the Learning Launchpad, inviting visitors to step inside and explore the space firsthand.
Discovery starts with exploration
The Learning Launchpad is designed for school groups visiting the National Geographic Museum of Exploration. It introduces students to National Geographic through the power of geographic thinking, inviting them to ask questions, make connections and see the world through the lens of exploration.
Inside the space, students will encounter interactive exhibits, immersive projection experiences and distinctive features, including a magic bookcase that adds a sense of wonder to the journey. Together, these elements encourage curiosity, critical thinking and the Explorer Mindset.
The goal is not simply for students to observe. It is for them to participate, investigate and see themselves as learners capable of asking big questions about the world around them.
That spirit closely aligns with Cengage's belief in the power and joy of learning, where opportunity and curiosity come together in meaningful ways.
A partnership centered on real-world learning
For nearly 15 years, Cengage and the National Geographic Society have partnered through National Geographic Learning to bring the world to the classroom and the classroom to life. Today, that work reaches nearly 20 million learners each year across more than 100 countries, with more than 600 National Geographic Explorers featured throughout Cengage learning experiences.
It is a partnership built on complementary strengths. National Geographic helps learners see the world. Cengage helps learners find their place in it.
The Learning Launchpad is a natural extension of that work. It brings real-world stories and perspectives to life in ways that help students better understand both the world around them and the opportunities ahead.
Career-connected learning starts with curiosity
Career-connected learning begins with exposure. Students need to see possibilities before they can pursue them.
By introducing learners to National Geographic Explorers, real people tackling global challenges, both within the space and throughout National Geographic Learning materials we provide at Cengage, students can imagine new possibilities for themselves. It helps them recognize themselves in real-world stories and begin to see how what they are learning can connect to future careers and opportunities.
For Cengage, whose mission is to connect learning to opportunity, that connection is essential. The Launchpad is more than a place for exploration. It is a place where students can begin to see how learning connects to skills, careers and their future.
Looking ahead
The National Geographic Learning Launchpad Powered by Cengage is the latest chapter in a longstanding partnership that brings together exploration and opportunity in a space designed to inspire learners.
Cengage is proud to partner with the National Geographic Society to bring this vision to life and excited for the impact it will have on students for years to come.