The Southeast Iowa STEM Region and Collins Aerospace are excited to announce the third annual Community STEM Day in Cedar Rapids!
This year's event will be held on July 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Last year's event featured more than 2,000 attendees, 64 exhibitors, 20 food trucks, and more. At the event, community members are invited to take part in a farmer's market-style fair, in-depth workshops, and exclusive tours of Collins Aerospace labs.
You can preview this year's workshops and tours below. Check back here and follow us on Facebook for more details, including important registration updates!
STEM Workshops
Workshops below are for those interested in a deeper dive into STEM.
Registration coming soon!
| Light-Up Card (all ages): Greeting cards have changed greatly over the years. What once used to be a simple piece of printed paper has now evolved into lights. Join us as we explore electrical engineering by building greeting cards from scratch that light up! |
| Program Rovers (recommended age: 11+): Explore software engineering by building an iPad controller, which will be used to send commands to a rover. Participants will learn how to program a rover to execute a variety of exciting commands. |
| Build a Hand (recommended age: 14+): We use our hands for so many things. Can you imagine what life would be like without a hand? Help us give back to those in need by exploring systems and mechanical engineering by building a real prosthetic hand, which will be donated to a child who was born without one. |
| Build a Bike (all ages): No child forgets their first bicycle. Working together, participants will explore mechanical engineering by constructing a BMX-style bicycle that will be donated to members of the community in need. |
| Learn to Solder (recommended age: 14+): Technicians are the people who actually build the things that engineers design. Did you know that nearly all the electrical components you find in phones, TVs, cars, etc. have pieces that need to be "glued" together? Explore soldering by creating a spinning wheel that will make you feel just like you are on your very own game show! |
| Build Robots (recommended age: 11+): Ever wonder how a Roomba works? How does it know where to go? How does it know not to fall down stairs? This activity will demonstrate electrical engineering as you construct a line-following robot with only the use of basic circuitry. |
Lab Tours
For those interested in a tour of a Collins Aerospace Lab. Note: three of the tour options comprise two separate tours, described individually as "(I)" and "(II)" below.
Registration coming soon!
| (I) SIM Lab and (II) MA700 Systems Lab: (I) Collins Aerospace uses virtual reality and video-gaming technology to evaluate new products for manufacturing and to perform early training. Using a VR headset, a virtual manufacturing environment can be utilized to experience a design to scale and walk-through of its build process in a fully immersive manner. (II) With the Pro Line Fusion® integrated avionics system, advanced situational awareness and flexible and intuitive decision-making tools combine with total connectivity to enhance the safety, efficiency, and predictability of every mission—for business and commercial aircraft, as well as military platforms. Available features—such as the industry’s first touch-control primary flight displays, integrated head-up vision systems, and powerful weather-threat detection—help pilots fly with precision anywhere, anytime. |
| (I) Concept Flight Deck and (II) Displays Demo Lab: (I)The Concept Flight Deck was developed to integrate and evaluate new and near-term Collins technology. These capabilities include vision systems (synthetic, enhanced, and combined vision), traffic applications, and surface operations, incorporating a head-up display, and a haptic seat that can be used to alert the pilot in new and novel ways. (II) The Display Products Demo Room showcases both current and future state avionics display technology. Stop in to see our head-down flight displays that can be seen on commercial airliners, military helicopters, and business jets! Other highlights include LED backlights, optical bonding, 3D, touch screens, and emissive displays. |
| (I) Cabin Systems Lab and (II) M170 Systems Lab: (I)Come check out Collins Aerospace's technology for business jets' passengers' comfort and entertainment. Our interactive demo will go over our industry-leading Venue Cabin Management, Stage In-flight Entertainment, and Airshow Moving Maps products, implemented in various touchscreen sizes and personal tablets. (II)With the Pro Line Fusion® integrated avionics system, advanced situational awareness and flexible and intuitive decision-making tools combine with total connectivity to enhance the safety, efficiency and predictability of every mission—for business and commercial aircraft, as well as military platforms. Available features, such as integrated head-up vision systems and powerful weather-threat detection, help pilots fly with precision anywhere, anytime. |
| F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System (restricted to U.S. citizens only): Check out your Top Gun skills by viewing the F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System and 3D head scanning fitting demos. Learn how fighter pilots today are able to see 360 degrees around the airplane, almost like it wasn't there. |
| CAMEL (Component and Material Evaluation Lab) Lab (restricted to U.S. citizens only): This concept flight deck was developed to integrate and evaluate new and near-term Collins' technology. These capabilities include vision systems (synthetic, enhanced, and combined vision), pilot support systems that monitor the pilot's fatigue level through eye tracking, and haptic seats that can be used to alert the pilot in new and novel ways. |
Exhibitors and Food-Truck Vendors
Are you an exhibitor or food-truck vendor interested in participating in the 2025 Community STEM Day? Click through to the appropriate application below.
