Article Details STEM Nights, CS Engagement in Rural Maine
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One initiative of the wider STEM Workforce Ready 2030(opens in a new tab) (WFR) project is STEM Nights, which is the focus of a newly published Maine Policy Review article, “STEM Nights in Rural Maine: Connecting Classrooms, Careers, and Communities(opens in a new tab),” authored by MMSA’s Kate Mahan and Rachael Dektor. These events aim to bring examples of how computer science is used locally to rural Maine schools.
Educators from across the state participating in the Workforce Ready project contribute in multiple ways. One way is by leading events that bring community members—including students, their families, and local employers—together to learn about computer science and its real-world applications. The goal of this work is to bolster intergenerational learning, community trust, and improve computer science accessibility in rural Maine.
The article describes how educators leverage their specialized experience facilitating STEM learning to organize and lead these community-centered events.
“Educators draw on their experience implementing computer science-integrated lessons and participating in professional learning to design interactive events that resonate with their communities. Many of the featured activities, like robotics demonstrations, VR simulations, and demonstrations of applied technologies, are selected and adapted based on prior experience and reflection.”
For example, the first STEM Night event, held at Mt. Ararat Middle School in Topsham in January 2025, was attended by over 400 people, and included virtual reality stations, interactive exhibits on welding and spray painting in industrial settings, and a firefighting simulation, among many other activities. Local organizations collaborated with educators to integrate participatory examples of leading-edge technology into the night’s activities.
“We are pleased by the continued growth and popularity of STEM Nights across our district hubs. These events offer a unique opportunity to bring together local businesses, community members, and educators for hands-on, engaging experiences that highlight how computer science is used in local industries and integrated into classroom instruction,” said Kate Mahan, Co-PI of STEM Workforce Ready 2030.
Read the article(opens in a new tab) to learn more about how these events are building awareness of computer science and regional STEM careers in rural Maine.
Kate Mahan
Researcher