Thief River Falls, Minnesota | November 20, 2025

Experience Northland Aerospace is a hands-on, student-focused event hosted by Northland in partnership with the National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT). The event brings together students, educators, and families to explore career pathways in advanced technology fields through interactive workshops and real-world applications. Programming highlights emerging technologies, including aerospace, transportation, and autonomous systems, while connecting students to educational and workforce opportunities.

Chief Operations Officer Mike Russell and Regional Mobility Director Jon Dege attended on behalf of The PLUM Catalyst. While on site, they led a hands-on workshop focused on digital twins and simulation in transportation.

https://ncatech.org/experience-northland/

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Conference Highlights

The Digital Twins & Simulation workshop introduced students to how virtual models and real-time data are used to support transportation planning, system design, and performance improvement. Through interactive, hands-on activities, students explored how digital twins can be applied to real-world scenarios such as vehicles, roadways, and traffic flow. The session created opportunities to engage directly with students, spark curiosity around transportation technology careers, and demonstrate how emerging tools are shaping the future of mobility.