STEM Day at the Capitol
St Paul, Minnesota | April 15, 2026
The PLUM Catalyst is excited to participate in STEM Day at the Capitol, hosted by SciMathMN and the Minnesota STEM Ecosystem at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.
STEM Day at the Capitol brings together educators, students, policymakers, and workforce partners from across the state to highlight the importance of STEM learning and career pathways. The event provides an opportunity for organizations to showcase hands-on programs, connect with learners and leaders, and support conversations about how STEM education contributes to workforce development and future innovation within Minnesota’s statewide STEM ecosystem.
W. Michael Russell, Ph.D., Justin Johnson, and Trisha Peterson will be attending on behalf of The PLUM Catalyst as exhibitors through PLUM Mobility Labs and our partnership with the National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT). During the event, the team will connect with students, educators, and statewide STEM partners to share how hands-on engagement with emerging transportation technologies can help build awareness of future mobility careers and strengthen early connections to workforce pathways across Minnesota’s growing STEM ecosystem.
Conference Highlights
This year’s STEM Day at the Capitol reflected a noticeable shift in emphasis compared to past events, with stronger attention on how artificial intelligence is shaping Minnesota’s business and workforce landscape. Conversations throughout the day highlighted how organizations are beginning to integrate AI tools into operations and planning environments, reinforcing the importance of preparing students and educators for technology-enabled career pathways that continue to evolve rapidly.
The event also created opportunities for meaningful conversations about transportation technology workforce development and early career awareness connected to emerging mobility systems. Members of the PLUM team shared how initiatives like PLUM Mobility Labs and goMARTI help introduce students to real-world transportation innovation and expand visibility into future mobility career pathways across Minnesota.
Several discussions during the event highlighted strong interest in expanding teacher training opportunities and strengthening connections between classroom learning and internship experiences. These conversations reinforced the importance of partnerships that support implementation and funding for hands-on STEM engagement programs.
The team also connected with Amanda H. Hemmingsen-Jaeger, a member of the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee, to discuss opportunities to increase awareness of transportation technology workforce pathways. Additional conversations with leadership from HiTech Kids highlighted potential areas for collaboration around student engagement and training pathways. Heather Keeler also stopped by the PLUM table and expressed interest in learning more about goMARTI and the role emerging transportation technologies can play in Minnesota’s innovation ecosystem.
