Minnesota Sea Grant is hosting a learning station at the University of Minnesota Duluth's STEM Discovery Day, a free event for students in grades 6-12 interested in learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. STEM learning stations take place in the morning, followed by a free lunch for students, and a college prep program in the afternoon.
Minnesota Sea Grant's learning station, "Project Float and the Great Lakes Buoyancy Adventure," helps answer the question of how a 1,000-foot steel ship filled with cargo can float from port to port on the Great Lakes. Students will learn about the concepts of density and buoyancy and apply this knowledge to design a boat that floats and can hold cargo. Students will work in small groups to create a boat using everyday materials and test how much cargo their designs can hold. Finally, students will learn about ballast water, how it keeps ships and their crew safe, and the role it plays in introducing aquatic invasive species.
Free busing will be available at local schools to those who register and request first, including Denfeld High School, Lincoln Park Middle School, Ordean Middle School, and Superior Middle School.
When
Saturday, February 14, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT
Where
University of Minnesota Duluth
1049 University Dr.
Duluth, MN 55812
Regiatration
Registration is required to attend this event. A parent/ guardian must fill out a permission form before attending. A digital permission form will be emailed to guardians later, if they prefer to fill out the permission online.
Presenters
- Kelsey Prihoda, Minnesota Sea Grant Great Lakes Transportation Extension Educator.
- Hilarie Sorensen, Minnesota Sea Grant Water Resources Extension Educator.
Event Host
This event is hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth's Swenson College of Science and Engineering Outreach Team.
Contact
Amy Kireta, Swenson College of Science & Engineering Outreach Specialist. [email protected].
Image credit: C. Dettmann/MNSG.