In 2010, a Texas Tech University Chemistry graduate student was seriously injured after an energetic compound he was working with detonated. The student lost three fingers, received burns to his hands and face, and suffered an eye injury. Almost three years prior to this incident, two close calls occurred in the same department-one even in the same research project. Laboratory research by students is ongoing at NASA centers and at college campuses supporting NASA research and education activities. At any given time, hundreds of students participate in NASA on-site activities through education outreach, intern and cooperative education programs. Hundreds of other students and faculty members participate in NASA research grants across the country. These students are often exposed to many of the same potentially hazardous environments as our regular full-time employees. The lessons learned from these events provide NASA with an important opportunity to reflect on and scrutinize our own policies and practices (e.g., Comprehensive Chemical Hygiene Plans, hazard communications and lessons learned programs) and on the barriers to safety that existed at TTU leading up to the incident. Even with the attention that goes with preparing our grant provisions, it is the NASA and contractor veterans working directly with these young, talented employees and faculty members that most influence their safety and health.