STEM goes beyond the obvious — direct sciences and mathematics, and applied sciences like agriculture, natural resources, computer science, health care and engineering — to also encompass everyday science and engineering tasks like cooking and car repair. STEM is everywhere!
The Minnesota STEM Ecosystem
The Minnesota STEM Ecosystem is a statewide STEM Network. It was created through a cross-sector, cross-system collaboration of business, education, government, afterschool programs, museums, non-profit and community organizations, policy leaders.
The MN STEM Ecosystem operates as part of the MN Service Cooperatives and has the capacity to act as both an LEA and a nonprofit. While there are 9 service cooperatives and we work with all of them, our program is housed in the Southeast Service Cooperative.
What is a STEM Ecosystem?
A STEM Ecosystem encompasses schools, community settings such as after-school and summer programs, science centers and museums, and informal experiences at home and in a variety of environments that together constitute a rich array of learning opportunities for people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related opportunities in their community.
STEM Ecosystems can advance policy and create systems alignment solutions that improve STEM career pathways, coordination, and learning, helping to close the STEM workforce opportunity gap.
