Inventor of the Segway visits Mankato to advocate for more S.T.E.M. Programs in MN Schools

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) -

STEM, also known as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, are programs that Inventor Dean Kamen thinks aren’t available enough for students.

“We’ve got to get kids now, faster and more importantly than ever, to appreciate what technology is. How to understand it, how to use it as an effective tool, and build themselves careers,” Kamen explained.

Kamen is the inventor of the Segway and thousands of other patented products. He wants to challenge the youth of today to figure out how life around us works, not just experience it passively.

He says to kids, “You think it’s fun to play that video game? How bout if you could design it? How bout if you could build it? How bout if you could understand how that software is working in there,” Kamen asks.

This way of thinking gets Kamen excited, and it is the same type of excitement that resides in MSU Student, Griffin Artherton. He says he went to Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, just 40 min east of Mankato.

“So, a small school like I said, 50-some people a grade. Which means the classes that are offered are very limited. Especially, when it comes to STEM classes because those classes don’t seem to be offered regardless,” Artherton explained.

It’s not just the smaller schools that get left out of STEM.

Max Spriggs is a Junior at Mankato West, a school of over 1,000 kids, and even he notices the lack of STEM programs.

“I feel like having mechatronics, robotics, even woodworking, any kind of critical thinking activity, is really good to have for every student,” Spriggs said with a smile.

Sharing STEM with every student, is something Kamen can get behind.

“Hey if we can get kids as passionate about developing that muscle hanging between their ears, as they are passionate about getting better at kicking or running or throwing, or any other kind of sport...”.

Kamen says it’s that kind of thinking that can support STEM careers and provide America with competitive minds to keep building the country’s future.

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