STEM Day at the Capitol

With the goal of updating Iowa lawmakers on Iowa STEM, the STEM Council alongside partners in STEM from across Iowa talk with legislators to showcase hands-on, interactive, and student-focused learning innovations at STEM Day at the Capitol.

The 2017 STEM Day at the Capitol sponsored by John Deere and Rockwell Collins gathered 33 interactive exhibits, staffed by more than 160 people. Together, they helped tell the story of the growing partnerships between the STEM Council and entities across all sectors of Iowa, including the program providers the for STEM Scale-Up Program, STEM BEST, STEM Seal of Approval, Iowa STEM Network Hub Institutions, youth agencies, nonprofits and more.

The event began with evaluative snapshots from Executive Director Dr. Jeff Weld. He introduced Gov. Terry Branstad who acknowledged the progress made by this group since his executive order 74 in 2011. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds followed, thanking exhibitors for their tireless work on behalf of children, many of whom made the trek and earned her warm well-wishes for bright STEM futures. In a uniquely STEM-like fashion of bipartisanship, Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, Sen. Bill Dotzler, Rep. Cecil Dolecheck and Rep. Dave Jacoby each shared their own observations of Iowa’s STEM progress in earning their support as key in producing Iowa’s next generation of skilled innovators.

STEM Council Co-Chair and Kemin Industries President and CEO Dr. Chris Nelson rallied attendees around what has become a signature program of the STEM Council, recognizing six outstanding Iowa educators, one per STEM region, who earned the 2017 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award, generously sponsored by his company. All leaders remained at the podium to congratulate the six honored teachers.

Between the exhibitors and the legislators invited, the Capitol Rotunda drew in roughly 450 people focused on the STEM happening around Iowa.