Minnesota STEM Program Newsletter: Local Resources and Guide

Minnesota is the medical device capital of the world. More medical device companies are headquartered here than anywhere else, and Mayo Clinic is one of the most famous medical institutions on earth. For Minnesota STEM students, the connection between what they learn in biology, chemistry, and physics and what the state's most important industries do is direct and compelling. A newsletter that makes that connection clear gives families a specific reason to invest in STEM education.

The medical device industry: Minnesota's STEM anchor

Medtronic, headquartered in Dublin but with major Minnesota operations, is the world's largest medical device company. Boston Scientific has a major Minnesota presence. Smiths Medical, Teleflex, and hundreds of smaller medical device companies operate in the Twin Cities area. The medical device industry employs biomedical engineers, electrical engineers, software engineers, and materials scientists. For Minnesota students interested in both science and healthcare, this industry is a direct and accessible career pathway.

Mayo Clinic and biomedical research

Mayo Clinic in Rochester is one of the world's most respected medical institutions. It conducts research in precision medicine, genomics, cancer treatment, and health technology. Mayo's biomedical research connects directly to high school biology, chemistry, and statistics content. For southeastern Minnesota students, Mayo is a local institution that employs thousands of scientists, engineers, and healthcare technology specialists.

3M and materials science

3M, headquartered in Maplewood, develops materials, adhesives, coatings, and healthcare products. It is one of the world's most innovative materials science companies. The Post-it Note, Scotch tape, and thousands of other products were invented at 3M. For chemistry and materials science students in Minnesota, 3M is a tangible example of what industrial chemistry looks like and a significant local employer.

Clean energy in Minnesota

Minnesota has strong wind energy infrastructure and is expanding solar energy rapidly. Xcel Energy, a major Minnesota utility, has committed to 100% clean electricity by 2050. Clean energy engineering and environmental science careers are growing in Minnesota. The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment connects school science to real sustainability research.

Template: Minnesota STEM newsletter excerpt

"This semester our biology class is studying biomedical engineering with a focus on how medical devices work. Minnesota has more medical device companies per capita than anywhere in the world. We have a biomedical engineer from a local company visiting in November to talk about how they design devices that work inside the human body. We are also reminding families that the Minnesota State Science Fair registration is open. Students interested in competing should discuss their project ideas with their teacher this month."

University of Minnesota and STEM pathways

The University of Minnesota is a Big Ten research university with strong engineering, medical, and biological science programs. It has direct partnerships with Minnesota's medical device and technology industries. The U of M runs K-12 outreach programs and offers dual enrollment for high school students. For Minnesota families, the University of Minnesota is an accessible in-state option with direct career connections to the state's major industries.

Daystage makes it easy to build a consistent newsletter series that keeps Minnesota families connected to the state's extraordinary STEM career landscape throughout the year.