From prehistoric footprints in Mammoth Cave to distinct signatures on bourbon barrels, Kentucky's rich cultural heritage has shaped our past.
And now — thanks to the University of Kentucky's new EduceLab — it's helping to shape the future.
Made possible by a $14 million infrastructure grant from the National Science Foundation, EduceLab is the university's bold vision for next-generation heritage science.
The lab was unveiled during a "soft opening" last week — launching a new era of discovery, education and innovation at the intersection of the humanities, engineering and data science.
Led by Brent Seales — computer science professor and visionary behind the groundbreaking "virtual unwrapping" of the En Gedi scroll — EduceLab brings together a diverse team of experts from the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Their mission: to develop new technologies that reveal, protect and share the stories of our past.
"The word 'educe' means to bring out from data — to develop something hidden," Seales said. "That's what we're doing here. What began as a quest to read inside a scroll has become a platform for answering broader heritage science questions in Kentucky."
Located on Export Street, EduceLab features cutting-edge tools in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and micro-CT imaging. The lab functions as a user-facility for the heritage community — offering hands-on research opportunities for students and supporting collaborative work with museums, archaeologists and preservationists across the globe.
During the soft opening, student researchers led tours with distinguished guests — offering live demonstrations of the lab's state-of-the-art equipment and showcasing how technology is transforming heritage science.
With its four distinct clusters — BENCH, FLEX, MOBILE and CYBER — EduceLab is equipped to study heritage objects from every angle:
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BENCH provides the advanced materials science instruments needed to understand how historical artifacts were made and preserved.
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FLEX offers a one-of-a-kind prototyping space to design custom imaging systems tailored to artifacts' unique shapes and challenges.
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MOBILE takes the lab on the road, enabling noninvasive studies at museums, archaeological digs and in communities across the state.
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CYBER ensures the data collected is processed, visualized and shared in ways that fuel future breakthroughs.
"This space was designed not only for research but for learning," Seales said. "Students will now get to see the science behind the preservation — how we study paintings, artifacts and manuscripts — in real-time."
As the lab opens its doors, it also opens a new frontier: one where science and storytelling meet. And where Kentucky's legacy becomes a bridge to global innovation.
Seales envisions the lab expanding into various areas, such as forensic archaeology, genetic sequencing and carbon dating — with the goal of ensuring a sustainable and impactful future for heritage science.
"With EduceLab, we're proving that innovation here in Kentucky can elevate our own stories and also create unique opportunities for us to lead nationally."
The lab will be officially commissioned in 2026, and a grand opening will be scheduled at a later date. Learn more about Seales' groundbreaking research here, and learn more about EduceLab here.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Award No. 2131940. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.
