Massachusetts STEM Program Newsletter: Local Resources and Guide

Massachusetts has the most unusual STEM education advantage in the country: more top universities per square mile than any other state, the world's second-largest biotech cluster, and a robotics industry that includes some of the most famous companies in the field. For Massachusetts STEM teachers, the challenge is not finding relevant local context. It is deciding which extraordinary resources to feature in each newsletter.

MIT, Harvard, and the university STEM pipeline

Massachusetts has more highly ranked STEM universities per capita than any other state. MIT, Harvard, BU, Northeastern, UMass, Tufts, WPI, and dozens of others run K-12 outreach programs. MIT's Saturday Science program, WPI's engineering outreach, and Northeastern's urban school partnerships are accessible to Massachusetts students. For teachers who want to bring working scientists into their classroom, virtually every major STEM field has a Massachusetts university connection.

Biotech and Cambridge's life sciences corridor

Kendall Square in Cambridge is the most biotech-dense urban area in the world. Biogen, Novartis, Pfizer, and hundreds of biotech startups operate here. Boston Children's Hospital, Mass General, and the Broad Institute conduct world-class research. For Massachusetts students interested in biology, biochemistry, and medicine, the career landscape is extraordinary. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center runs education programs and supports school-industry partnerships.

Robotics: from iRobot to Boston Dynamics

Massachusetts is home to iRobot, which makes the Roomba and military robots, and Boston Dynamics, which makes Spot and Atlas. Both companies have roots in MIT research. The robotics industry in Massachusetts employs mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, software engineers, and AI researchers. For students interested in robotics, Massachusetts offers direct local career connections to the companies that are defining the field.

Defense technology and Raytheon

Raytheon Technologies, now merged with United Technologies, has major Massachusetts operations including missile systems and intelligence systems development. The defense technology corridor around Waltham, Bedford, and Andover employs thousands of engineers and computer scientists. For Massachusetts students interested in systems engineering and defense technology, these are local employers with active school partnership programs.

Template: Massachusetts STEM newsletter excerpt

"Our school is partnering with a local university researcher for our spring science fair mentorship program. Students who are working on independent research projects can sign up for a virtual session with a graduate student mentor from the biology, chemistry, or engineering department. We also want to remind families that applications for the MIT Saturday Science program open in January for current seventh and eighth graders. These programs are free and are a remarkable opportunity for students who love science."

Massachusetts STEM competitions

FIRST Robotics Massachusetts is among the most competitive in the country. Science Olympiad Massachusetts runs rigorous state championships. The Metro Boston Science Fair and regional fairs have strong ISEF representation. Massachusetts STEM Week in October features events across the state. The Science Club for Girls is particularly active in Boston. Naming specific upcoming competitions with registration timelines in newsletters increases student participation.

Daystage makes it easy to communicate the extraordinary Massachusetts STEM resources to families throughout the school year in a clear, organized way.