3M Safety Roadshow Inspires Students with Hands-On STEM and Trade Experiences
When students step into 3M’s Safety Roadshow—a 90-foot semi-truck outfitted with interactive learning stations from the company’s Personal Safety Division—they’re immediately immersed in a lively environment filled with the sounds of robotics and animated conversations. This was the scene at Joe T. Robinson High School, one of three Little Rock area schools visited this spring. There, over 200 students enthusiastically assumed roles such as design engineers, production managers, assemblers, and quality control inspectors as they collaborated to produce modeling clay “cookies” tailored to customer specifications.
The event was part of a broader initiative by 3M to engage students in areas surrounding its manufacturing locations. Through its mobile training unit, the company seeks to inspire interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as skilled trades careers.
While the Safety Roadshow has been visiting industrial training sites and clients across the U.S. and Canada for over a decade, this year marked its first outreach into school districts.
“Experiences like these open doors for students and help prepare the next generation for workforce demands,” said Michelle Diggs, director of external community impact at 3M.
At each stop, students were divided into teams and assigned various tasks along a mock production line. A robotic system assessed their clay creations to see if they met set standards, offering immediate feedback that students used to refine their products.
"Each job on the production line has its own role, but they all come together to make one final product," said Madison Chang, a 10th grader enrolled in the school’s Science and Technology track, in an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Markous Jewett, vice president of the Academies of Central Arkansas and a leader at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of these kinds of real-world educational experiences.
"These are opportunities we simply can’t replicate in a traditional classroom," he explained. "We rely on our industry partners to share their time and expertise."
The roadshow also gave students the chance to explore various types of personal protective equipment (PPE), including helmets, hearing and eye protection, and respirators.
Stephanie Baum, sales training manager for 3M’s Personal Safety Division, emphasized the preventative value of early education around workplace safety.
"Starting these conversations before students enter the workforce empowers them to make safer choices and look out for their colleagues as well," she said.
3M hopes that by bringing these immersive and practical experiences directly to students, it can help close gaps in the STEM and skilled labor sectors.
"Innovation isn’t just about scientific breakthroughs," Baum noted. "It’s also about new approaches to education and forming community partnerships."
While in Little Rock, 3M awarded $119,000 to the Pulaski County Special School District. The funding covered school improvement initiatives identified collaboratively by students and staff, with additional support allocated to College Station Elementary through both 3M's local giving program and its DonorsChoose classroom fund.
Earlier that same week, the Safety Roadshow stopped at the Career Academies of Decatur in Alabama—the first high school in the region established specifically for STEM and trade skills, opening in 2024. Over 250 students participated in activities similar to those in Little Rock, including problem-solving games that required correctly identifying PPE and dressing mannequins appropriately.
During the Decatur visit, 3M contributed $215,000 to the Decatur City Schools Foundation. This donation included launch funds for the school’s new industrial maintenance program as well as districtwide support for tutoring and food assistance.
The Safety Roadshow will continue to travel throughout 2025, with future student-focused visits planned for Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas.
The event was part of a broader initiative by 3M to engage students in areas surrounding its manufacturing locations. Through its mobile training unit, the company seeks to inspire interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as skilled trades careers.
While the Safety Roadshow has been visiting industrial training sites and clients across the U.S. and Canada for over a decade, this year marked its first outreach into school districts.
“Experiences like these open doors for students and help prepare the next generation for workforce demands,” said Michelle Diggs, director of external community impact at 3M.
At each stop, students were divided into teams and assigned various tasks along a mock production line. A robotic system assessed their clay creations to see if they met set standards, offering immediate feedback that students used to refine their products.
"Each job on the production line has its own role, but they all come together to make one final product," said Madison Chang, a 10th grader enrolled in the school’s Science and Technology track, in an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Markous Jewett, vice president of the Academies of Central Arkansas and a leader at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of these kinds of real-world educational experiences.
"These are opportunities we simply can’t replicate in a traditional classroom," he explained. "We rely on our industry partners to share their time and expertise."
The roadshow also gave students the chance to explore various types of personal protective equipment (PPE), including helmets, hearing and eye protection, and respirators.
Stephanie Baum, sales training manager for 3M’s Personal Safety Division, emphasized the preventative value of early education around workplace safety.
"Starting these conversations before students enter the workforce empowers them to make safer choices and look out for their colleagues as well," she said.
3M hopes that by bringing these immersive and practical experiences directly to students, it can help close gaps in the STEM and skilled labor sectors.
"Innovation isn’t just about scientific breakthroughs," Baum noted. "It’s also about new approaches to education and forming community partnerships."
While in Little Rock, 3M awarded $119,000 to the Pulaski County Special School District. The funding covered school improvement initiatives identified collaboratively by students and staff, with additional support allocated to College Station Elementary through both 3M's local giving program and its DonorsChoose classroom fund.
Earlier that same week, the Safety Roadshow stopped at the Career Academies of Decatur in Alabama—the first high school in the region established specifically for STEM and trade skills, opening in 2024. Over 250 students participated in activities similar to those in Little Rock, including problem-solving games that required correctly identifying PPE and dressing mannequins appropriately.
During the Decatur visit, 3M contributed $215,000 to the Decatur City Schools Foundation. This donation included launch funds for the school’s new industrial maintenance program as well as districtwide support for tutoring and food assistance.
The Safety Roadshow will continue to travel throughout 2025, with future student-focused visits planned for Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas.
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