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Hundreds of students attend NMU Open Lab Day

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, October 28th 2025 at 23:55 GMT by Upper
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A Day of Discovery

Open Lab Day began at 9:00 a.m. with a welcome address from Dr. Angela Hayes, the university’s Dean of Science and Engineering. Dr. Hayes explained that the event was part of NMU’s broader effort to strengthen STEM pipelines and to provide local students with a tangible sense of what a college science career might entail. “We want students to see the real tools and people behind the textbooks,” she said. “By letting them walk through our labs, meet researchers, and try out equipment, we hope to spark their curiosity and inspire them to consider NMU as their next step.”

The day’s schedule was packed with tours, demonstrations, and interactive sessions. Students were divided into small groups, each guided by a faculty member or graduate student. Highlights included:

• High‑Performance Computing (HPC) Corner – Students saw the university’s new 1,000‑node HPC cluster, learned how it powers climate models and genomic analyses, and got a chance to submit a simple data‑processing script on a test node.

• Biology Wet Lab – In a state‑of‑the‑art microbiology laboratory, participants observed a live bacterial culture under a microscope, learned about aseptic technique, and conducted a quick experiment measuring bacterial growth in different nutrient media.

• Robotics and Automation Lab – A team of mechanical engineering students demonstrated a robotic arm capable of precise pick‑and‑place tasks. Visitors could program a simple trajectory using a graphical interface, and the arm performed the sequence in front of an enthusiastic audience.

• Environmental Science Field Lab – A small group left campus for a short drive to a nearby wetland. There, environmental science students collected soil and water samples, teaching attendees how to record data and assess habitat quality.

In addition to the lab tours, the event featured a Q&A panel with NMU faculty from the biology, chemistry, and engineering departments. Students asked about course prerequisites, research opportunities, and the application process. Faculty members emphasized that NMU offers flexible credit‑transfer options for students coming from community colleges, a key point for many attendees.

Engagement Beyond the Labs

To complement the hands‑on experiences, the university hosted a “Career in Science” workshop at noon, where a local high‑school physics teacher, Mrs. Laura McKinney, spoke about the importance of a strong STEM foundation and shared success stories of former NMU alumni who now work in cutting‑edge research labs and industry. Students were also given a chance to meet with the NMU Career Services staff, who explained the scholarship options available for incoming freshmen and discussed internships at nearby companies like the Upper Peninsula Power Authority and the GMI Science & Technology Park.

A gallery of photographs and videos captured throughout the day has since been uploaded to the university’s event page, available at https://nmu.edu/events/open-lab-day. The gallery includes images of students operating microscopes, assembling circuit boards, and laughing as they wrestled with a simple robotics challenge. The event page also hosts a short interview with Dr. Hayes, in which she reiterates the university’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for aspiring scientists.

Community Impact and Future Plans

Local media coverage, including a feature by the Upper Michigan Source, highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for the event. One high‑school science teacher, Mr. Kevin O’Connor, expressed his pride: “It’s encouraging to see students from our schools engaging with real science. This could be a turning point for many of them.”

NMU’s Director of Student Affairs, Dr. Robert L. Pierce, noted that the Open Lab Day was part of a series of outreach initiatives that the university is launching this academic year. “Our goal is to increase enrollment in science programs by 15% over the next five years,” he said. “Events like this are a vital component of that strategy.”

According to the university’s outreach coordinator, the next Open Lab Day will be scheduled for March, with a focus on the College of Engineering and the School of Environmental Science. Attendees will be encouraged to bring a friend or a family member, and the university is exploring partnerships with the Upper Peninsula STEM Academy to host joint programming.

A Forward‑Looking Experience

For the students who attended, the day was more than just a tour; it was an immersive experience that allowed them to visualize a future in science. As one 17‑year‑old participant, Maya Patel, put it, “I never realized how many different paths there are in science. Today I walked through a lab that makes it feel real.”

While the event was a success in terms of attendance and engagement, NMU also identified areas for improvement. Feedback collected through exit surveys suggested that more time for individual lab exploration would be beneficial, as well as clearer signage between the various sections of the campus. The university has already begun planning enhancements for the next iteration, including the addition of a “maker space” where students can design and prototype their own projects.

In sum, NMU’s Open Lab Day served as a powerful outreach tool, bridging the gap between high‑school science and collegiate research, and reinforcing the university’s role as a regional leader in STEM education. By providing hands‑on experience, personal interaction with faculty, and a glimpse into future career possibilities, the event has set a strong foundation for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and environmental stewards in the Upper Peninsula.