Missouri STEM Program Newsletter: Local Resources and Guide

Missouri has STEM career connections across two very different industries: aerospace manufacturing in St. Louis and agricultural biotechnology centered in Creve Coeur. Both employ thousands of engineers and scientists, and both have active school partnership programs. A newsletter that connects classroom learning to those local industries gives Missouri families a concrete picture of where STEM education leads.

Boeing and military aerospace in St. Louis

Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division has major St. Louis operations producing the F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Super Hornet military aircraft. Boeing is one of Missouri's largest private employers and has been a St. Louis anchor since the McDonnell Douglas era. Aerospace manufacturing requires aeronautical engineers, materials scientists, manufacturing technology specialists, and increasingly software engineers as aircraft become more software-intensive systems.

Agricultural biotechnology and Bayer CropScience

Bayer CropScience, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, maintains its US headquarters in Creve Coeur and conducts major agricultural genetics and crop science research there. The company develops genetically modified crops, pesticides, and agricultural data systems. For Missouri students interested in biology and biotechnology, Bayer CropScience is a world-class employer with a Missouri address.

Missouri S&T and engineering education

Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla is one of the top engineering schools in the country and is specifically focused on science and technology education. It has a direct connection to Missouri's mining, engineering, and manufacturing industries. Missouri S&T hosts high school competitions and runs outreach programs. For Missouri students interested in engineering, Missouri S&T is an in-state option with a national reputation.

Washington University and biomedical research

Washington University in St. Louis is one of the nation's top research universities with particular strength in biomedical research, genomics, and engineering. The WashU Medical Center is a major employer of scientists and healthcare technology professionals. WashU runs K-12 outreach programs and connects to the broader St. Louis science and tech community.

Template: Missouri STEM newsletter excerpt

"This semester our physics class is studying aerodynamics and structural engineering, connected to the aircraft manufacturing Boeing does right here in St. Louis. We have a Boeing engineer visiting in November to talk about the engineering behind the F-15 program. Our biology class is also starting a unit on crop biotechnology, which connects to the agricultural genetics research done at Bayer CropScience in Creve Coeur. Both connections show how what we study in class connects directly to major Missouri employers."

Missouri STEM competitions

Science Olympiad Missouri runs competitive state programs at both middle and high school levels. FIRST Robotics Missouri holds regional qualifying events. The Missouri State Science Fair feeds into ISEF. Missouri S&T hosts chemistry and math olympiad competitions for high school students. Naming these competitions with specific dates and deadlines in newsletters increases student participation.

Daystage makes it straightforward to keep Missouri families informed about STEM programs, industry connections, and competition opportunities throughout the school year.