STEMLink

At STEMLink, students in grades 5-6 explore STEM careers in labs and classrooms on local college campuses. Students attend breakout sessions led by STEM faculty and professionals and learn how studying science, technology, engineering, and math can lead to exciting careers! Review the Minnesota Academic Standards alignment for STEMLink.

Save the Dates –
March 19, 2027 (Hennepin Tech) & April 16, 2027 (Anoka Tech)

Registration fees are based on BrightWorks membership status. To find out if your school/district is a member, please see the updated membership list.

At STEMLink, students…

Past Session Examples:

Aquaponics Exploration
Discover how fish and plants work together! You will explore a living aquaponics system, test water quality, use microscopes to observe organisms and plants, and plant microgreens while learning about sustainability and the nitrogen cycle.
First Responders: Hands-On Life Saving
Are you interested in learning how to save lives? Find out how the circulatory system works, and how it can go wrong. Most importantly, we’ll teach you how to fix the problem. Be ready for a hands-on experience that might get a little messy!
Coding With Sphero Bolt
Learn about the Sphero Bolt (a robotic ball) using the TEAL+ model (Technology Enabled Active Learning utilizing STEAM) as the guiding principle to explore this technology. We will connect the robotic balls to iPads and start coding to aim the ball’s direction, change the speed, and alternate light colors. Your goal is to build a chariot with the Sphero Bolt to transport as many Starburst candies as possible in one minute from one point to another.
Truck Tech Detectives
Explore careers in heavy-duty vehicle technology through a fun, hands-on electrical diagnostics demonstration. Learn how technicians use science, engineering, and problem-solving to troubleshoot complex truck systems. You will see real diagnostic tools in action and discover the STEM pathways that lead to careers keeping modern transportation systems running.
Weather Radar 101
Learn a little about the history of weather radar before diving into how meteorologists use radar when looking at storms. We will go over the two most commonly used weather radar products: reflectivity and velocity, and you will learn how and why they work. After that, we’ll go over real-life examples, and you will get to do some radar exercises to put your newly learned skills to the test!

Supporters

We would like to recognize our supporters for all the ways that they help make STEMLink successful, from financial contributions to in-kind donations to generously volunteering their time to promote STEM education. If you would like to learn more about how you can support the next generation of STEM learners by contributing financially to STEMLink, please contact Colleen Feller at 612-638-1511. View the annual benefits of support levels.

Questions?

For more information about how your students can participate, connect with Betsy Narr at 612-638-1550. If you are interested in presenting, contact Madi Ericksen at 612-638-1514.