STEM
ON SITE
Index Milwaukee’s Premier STEM Destination
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Programs at the We Energies STEM Center
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Programs at Your School
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Availability, Costs & Scholarships
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Cancellation & Late Arrival Policy
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Chaperones
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Bus Drop Off
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Next Generation Science Standards Alignment
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Elementary Programs
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Middle School Programs
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Middle School Multi-Session Programs
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High School Programs
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Grohmann Museum
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Map
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Contact Us
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Milwaukee’s Premier STEM Destination Our Mission STEM outreach at MSOE creates and supports inclusive, meaningful experiences for all students to explore the possibilities of their future, regardless of where their post-high school journey may take them.
About the Center The We Energies STEM Center at MSOE, located at 1444 N. Water St., is Milwaukee’s premier STEM destination for K-12 students. Created through a number of corporate and community partnerships, the STEM Center enables students from any school—public, private, charter and homeschool—to have access to hands-on, one-of-a-kind STEM experiences. The 10,000-square-foot STEM Center features a flexible technology studio, design and development lab, machine tooling area, and a FIRST Robotics playing field for teams to practice on a regulation field before they compete. Tools, resources, mentors and inclusive programming offer endless opportunities for Milwaukee’s youth to explore, create and get hooked on STEM. Interested in partnering with MSOE STEM or using the We Energies STEM Center? Please contact Elizabeth Taylor at (414) 277-7591 or taylore@msoe.edu.
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STEM on Site Program Programs at the We Energies STEM Center STEM on Site programs are an opportunity for students to explore a STEM activity beyond their classroom curriculum. STEM on Site is not designed to replace a full school STEM curriculum and is recommended to be implemented as a single or small series of programs throughout a grade band in a school. All of our activites encourage teamwork, creativity and critical thinking. Campus tours are available upon request for high school STEM on Site groups pending availability of our Admissions team.
Programs at Your School In addition to offering programming at MSOE, we can join you in your own classroom. MSOE will provide at least one staff member and the necessary materials to complete the activity. For groups larger than 20, MSOE requires additional volunteers from your group to ensure activity success. We recommend at least one adult for every 10 elementary aged students, and at least one adult for every 15 middle or high school students. In order to host at your location, we require one chair per student, one table per four students, and one staff member from the organization to be present at all times. A standard classroom configuration will work for most programs. The ability to project program materials in your room is not required, but highly recommended.
Availability, Costs & Scholarships This program is available Monday–Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. from September through mid-May. Fees are on a per-student basis and are listed by activity selected. MSOE charges a travel fee for offsite programming of $0.55/mile for sites that are more than 15 miles from MSOE’s campus (1025 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI). STEM on Site programs are designed to be collaborative, team based experiences. A minimum of 10 students is required for all programs. Scholarships are available. If your school is within 15 miles of MSOE and is over 50% economically disadvantaged per your most recent Wisconsin DPI scorecard, STEM on Site programs are offered free of charge. Please note for choice schools that we use the “all students” report card. If transportation is a barrier and you’d like to bring your students to MSOE, please let us know when you request a program date.
Cancellation & Late Arrival Policy Should you need to cancel or reschedule your visit, you must do so at least seven days prior to your visit date. Rescheduling requests made before or by this deadline will be allowed and we will work with you to find a mutually agreed upon new visit date. In this case, your payment will be applied to the new visit date. Cancellations or rescheduling requests made after the seven-day deadline, or groups that are no shows, will receive no refunds or rescheduling credits. Cancellations due to school/organization weather or COVID-19 closures will not be penalized. In said cases, please contact the STEM Department as soon as possible. If your group is going to arrive later than your scheduled arrival time, please contact the STEM Department as soon as possible at (414) 277–7238. All scheduled programs begin at the time stated on your contract. Late arrivals may result in the cancellation of activities or scheduled programs without refund regardless to the reason behind the tardiness, even issues with busing. No refunds or credits will be given for missed programming. Program times are firm and cannot be held or pushed back for groups that arrive late.
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Chaperones For groups larger than 20, at least one adult chaperone is required for every 10 additional students. There are no fees for chaperones or teachers. If your group is bringing a large amount (more than eight) of adult chaperones/volunteers/teachers, please contact us (for room capacity limits). Due to the hands-on nature of our programs, chaperones and teachers are recommended to plan to help students in completing activities. The program coordinator will send out pre-trip information which will include the mandatory number of chaperones needed to complement our hands-on teaching style. One staff member from your organization is required to be present at all times during the program.
Bus Drop Off All busses can drop students off at Broadway and Ogden Avenue. The STEM Center is located at Viets Field, 1444 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI. The main entrance faces Water Street.
Next Generation Science Standards Alignment All our elementary programs are designed to meet one or more of the K-5 Engineering Design Standards. K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost. 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved. All our middle school programs are designed to meet the following: MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. If a program meets additional standards, they will be stated under the program description.
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Elementary Programs Key Information
Grades: 1 Length: 45 minutes Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 1–2 Length: 45 minutes Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Index Card Challenge Students explore and experience the open-ended engineering design process as they work on building a stable structure to display a stuffed animal. They are challenged to design a structure using only index cards and tape. Before students brainstorm and draw sketches, they will develop an understanding of what shapes are good for building and how their structure will stay stable. The structure must be free standing and hold the stuffed animal for 10 seconds.
Light and Reflection Students will learn about light and reflection. After students explore and discover that light travels in a straight line, they will be challenged to try and bend the beam of light using the reflective properties of a mirror. Next, they will take what they learned about bending light and create a light path that has at least two bends. Finally, they will try to send a message through their light path by creating a flashing light pattern. 1-PS4-4.
Key Information
Grades: 1–2 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Simple Machines Students will learn about incline planes and pulleys. As students experiment with spring scales and incline planes, they learn that an incline plane makes it easier to move an object. They will also construct a pulley to pull a toy car out of the “snow.” K-PS2-1 & K-PS2-2
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Key Information
Grades: 1–3 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 1–3 Length: 45 minutes Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 1–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Snap Circuits & Energy Exploration Students will spend an hour working in groups of two to three to build circuits and experiment with different electrical elements. In this activity, students will learn about energy types (kinetic vs. potential) and how circuits work. Additionally, students will learn about solar energy and build circuits utilizing a solar panel.
Unplugged Coding Students will start to develop an understanding of coding basics. They will learn to use sequencing, conditional and loop coding blocks. They create a hopscotch code by laying coding squares on the floor. Students will then learn how a computer follows code by traveling through the hopscotch code and completing the specific tasks.
Bill of Material Zipline Challenge Students will design and build their own ziplines to safely carry a passenger (ping pong ball) down a zipline in less than four seconds. They will learn about terms like gravity, drag and friction. In order to complete the activity, students will be given tickets to purchase materials. Students will fill out a Bill of Materials to request the items they’d like after they’ve designed their zipline as a group. 5-PS1-3
Key Information
Grades: 2–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Seismic Design Challenge Students will use the engineering design process to design and build a structure that can withstand seismic forces on a small demo shake table. Students work in groups using straws and clay to build their earthquake-proof structure. They will discuss what causes an earthquake and ways to improve their initial design. 2-ESS1-1, 4-ESS3-2
Key Information
Grades: 2–5 Length: 1.5 hours Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 24 students
Key Information
Grades: 3–5 Length: 1 hours Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 4–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Fab Maker Studio *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will learn about digital prototyping and will be challenged to design, fabricate and assemble 3D shapes using Fab Maker Studio. This program will enable students to learn the basics of 3D design and modeling, fabricate and assemble their designs, and then construct a 3D shape of their choice.
Design a Space Lander Students are given a scenario where they are hired by NASA to create a space lander that meets design constraints. They must keep the astronauts (large marshmallows) safe as well as land their space craft safely when dropped from different heights. Students will work through the engineering design process to build their space lander and meet the constraints.
Robotics Workshops *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will spend an hour learning coding basics and then programming robots to run a series of on-the-spot mazes.
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Key Information
Grades: 2–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Cool Puppy! *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE for groups larger than 15 students
Students are given the engineering challenge to design and build doghouses that shelter a (toy) puppy from the heat—and to create them within material, size and cost constraints. The students will learn about light energy and how it does (or does not) travel through various materials, as well as how a material’s color affects its light absorption and reflection properties. They build their doghouse designs and test them by taking thermometer readings under hot lamps, and then think of ways to improve their designs. This is a great project for learning about light and heat, energy transfer, absorption, insulation, and material properties, and easily scales up/down for size and materials. K-PS3-2, 4-PS3-4, 4-PS3-2.
Key Information
Grades: 2–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 3–5 Length: 1–1.5 hours Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Industrial Engineering Students will spend an hour working in groups of four to learn about industrial engineering. They will work to streamline their own assembly process of LEGO airplanes. Students will compete against each other to build the most efficient assembly line, meaning they have assembled the most planes per minute with the lowest defect rate.
Makey Makey Workshop Students will learn about hardware and software through using Makey Makey microcontrollers. Activities will vary based on group size, experience, and grade level and have included topics such as circuitry, game controllers, music and coding. This activity requires 1:1 access to devices with USB ports and internet access (laptops or Chromebooks) to work at your location 3-PS2-3, 4-PS3-2.
Key Information
Grades: 3–5 Length: 1–1.5 hours Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Candy Chemistry *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will conduct chemistry experiments using candies of all types to learn about topics such as sucrose, acids and bases, and floating and sinking. 5-PS1-3
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Key Information
Grades: 3–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Digital Greeting Card Students will learn about the engineering design process and the basics of circuits. They will have the opportunity to design their own greeting cards and bring them to life using what they learned about circuits. The circuits will be created with an LED, copper tape and a coin cell battery. 4-PS3-2
Key Information
Grades: 3–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 4–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Electromagnets Students will explore the properties of electromagnets. They will learn how to create their own electromagnet and how engineers use them in everyday life. Students will have time to explore ways to increase the strength of their magnet and test it by picking up paper clips. 3-PS2-3
Wind Turbines *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will design wind turbines to transform wind energy into electrical energy. They will work in teams to create a propeller design out of paper clips, index cards/cardboard, a cork, scissors and tape. A testing station will be set up with a motor, voltmeter and fan. Students will be challenged to make improvements to their design in order to get the highest voltmeter reading. 4-PS3-4, 5-ESS3-1.
Key Information
Grades: 3–5 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Unplugged Coding–Upper Elementary Students will work though several different coding challenges related to basic coding concepts like sequencing, loops, debugging, conditionals and group work. The debugging activity requires a large open space as it is relay-style.
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Middle School Programs Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 6-8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Bill of Material Zipline Challenge Students will design and build their own ziplines to safely carry a passenger (ping pong ball) down a zipline in less than four seconds. Followed by slowing their zipline down to take longer than eight seconds. Students will be given “money” and material constraints. They will fill out a Bill of Materials to purchase the items they’d like after they’ve designed their zipline as a group.
Industrial Engineering Students will spend an hour working in groups of four to learn about industrial engineering. They will work to streamline their own assembly process of LEGO airplanes. Students will compete against each other to build the most efficient assembly line, meaning they have assembled the most planes per minute with the lowest defect rate.
Crash Test Cars Students explore and experience the open-ended engineering design process as if they are the next-generation engineers working on the next big safety feature for passenger vehicles. They are challenged to design or improve an existing passenger compartment design/feature so that it better withstands front-end collisions, protecting riders from injury and resulting in minimal vehicle structural damage. With a raw egg as the test passenger, teams use provided building materials to add their own safety features onto a small-size wooden car kit. They run the prototypes down ramps into walls. MS-PS2-1
Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1.25 hours Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1–1.5 hours Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Unplugged Artificial Intelligence Students will learn how AI can identify images and how deep fakes are created through acting as neural networks. These activities simulate deep learning where nodes pass information to one another. This activity works best with a minimum of 18 students.
The Catapult Students will use their knowledge of simple machines to build a compound machine. They will design their catapult to consist of a lever and wheel-and-axel. Given building materials, students will design and build their catapult to launch a mini marshmallow three meters. Students will be introduced to potential vs. kinetic energy.
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Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Heart Valve Replacement First, students will learn about functions of a healthy heart. Then students will be challenged to design and construct a replacement mitral valve that allows blood cells (marbles) to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, but not back in the other direction when the box is tipped. The sign of success is how many marbles pass through the left ventricle when the box is tipped, and then how many marbles remain there when the box is tipped the other way. Once a valve is ready to test, students implant it between the two chambers (in the box model) and test their model by placing marbles on the left atrium side and tipping the box toward the left ventricle.
Robotics Workshops *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will spend an hour learning coding basics and then programming robots to run a series of on the spot mazes.
Wind Turbines Students will design wind turbines to transform wind energy into electrical energy. They will work in teams to create a propeller design out of paper clips, index cards/cardboard, a cork, scissors and tape. A testing station will be set up with a motor, voltmeter and fan. Students will be challenged to make improvements to their design in order to get the highest voltmeter reading.
Light My Home Students will learn how to draw a schematic, wire a circuit using a breadboard and use that knowledge to design and wire a cardboard house. They will understand the use of various electrical components and learn how to build basic circuits.
Electromagnetism Students will build a simple electric motor using a neodymium magnet and magnet wire. We will discuss terms like current, electromagnet, and magnetic fields. They will learn how magnetic fields cause the wire to continuously rotate.
Design a Space Lander Students are given a scenario where they are hired by NASA to create a space lander that meets design constraints. They must keep the astronauts (large marshmallows) safe as well as land their space craft safely when dropped from different heights. Students will work through the engineering design process to build their space lander and meet the constraints.
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Middle School Multi-Session Programs Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1.5 hour sessions (2 sessions total)
Fee: $8.00 per student (includes both sessions)
Limit: 33 students
Artificial Intelligence *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will learn how facial recognition works. Using that knowledge, they will build a scenario where facial recognition can be beneficial in real life, and then code that scenario using our A.I. robot, Cozmo. If time allows, students will begin to explore voice recognition.
(1 robot to 3 students)
or 24 students
(1 robot to 2 students)
Key Information
Grades: 6–8 Length: 1–1.5 hour sessions (2 sessions total)
Fee: $8.00 per student (includes both sessions)
Limit: 24 students
Fab Maker Studio *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will learn about digital prototyping using the program Fab Maker Studio. They will be challenged to design, fabricate and assemble a go-kart using a Silhouette Portrait Printer. They will then use Newton’s Third Law of Motion to power their go-kart.
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High School Programs Key Information
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students Key Information
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Micro:bit Step Counter *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will use a Micro:bit, a type of microcontroller, to create a step counter. This program uses the Micro:bit’s accelerometer to detect movement counted as steps. Students will modify a code to make the most accurate step counter. If students have a FitBit, Apple Watch or any other type of activity tracker, they are encouraged to wear them that day.
Light My Home Students will learn how to draw a schematic, wire a circuit using a breadboard and use that knowledge to design and wire a cardboard house. They will understand the use of various electrical components and learn how to build basic circuits.
Robotics Workshops *must be done at the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE
Students will spend an hour learning coding basics and then programming robots to run a series of on the spot mazes.
Key Information
Artificial Intelligence
(2 sessions total)
Students will learn how facial recognition works. Using that knowledge, they will build a scenario where facial recognition can be beneficial in real life, and then code that scenario using our A.I. robot, Cozmo. If time allows, students will begin to explore voice recognition.
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1.5 hour sessions Fee: $8.00 per student (includes both sessions)
Limit: 33 students (1 robot to 3 students)
or 24 students
(1 robot to 2 students)
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Key Information
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Key Information
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1.25 hour Fee: $3.00 per student Limit: 30 students Key Information
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Industrial Engineering Students will spend an hour working in groups of four to learn about industrial engineering. They will work to streamline their own assembly process of LEGO airplanes. Students will compete against each other to build the most efficient assembly line, meaning they have assembled the most planes per minute with the lowest defect rate.
Unplugged Artificial Intelligence Students will learn how AI can identify images and how deep fakes are created through acting as neural networks. These activities simulate deep learning where nodes pass information to one another. This activity works best with a minimum of 18 students.
Bill of Material Zipline Challenge Students will design and build their own ziplines to safely carry a passenger (ping pong ball) down a zipline in less than four seconds. Followed by slowing their zipline down to take longer than eight seconds. Students will be given “money” and material constraints. They will fill out a Bill of Materials to purchase the items they’d like after they’ve designed their zipline as a group.
Key Information
Grades: 9–12 Length: 1 hour Fee: $5.00 per student Limit: 30 students
Design a Space Lander Students are given a scenario where they are hired by NASA to create a space lander that meets design constraints. They must keep the astronauts (large marshmallows) safe as well as land their space craft safely when dropped from different heights. Students will work through the engineering design process to build their space lander and meet the constraints along with understanding potential and kinetic energy of their landers.
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Grohmann Museum STEAM Experience Key Information
Length: 1 hour tour All ages welcome Admission 12 and under: free 13+: cost varies, call for more details Contact MacKenna Krupa Visitor Services Manager Grohmann Museum (414) 277-2333 1000 N. Broadway The corner of Broadway and State Street in downtown Milwaukee
Putting the ‘A’ in STEAM The Grohmann Museum Collection, located on Milwaukee School of Engineering’s campus, displays a collection of more than 600 European and American paintings and sculptures that span over 400 years of history depicting various forms of work. History comes alive through a variety of styles and subjects that document the evolution of work. Visitors can view three floors of galleries to see examples from manpower and horsepower, to farming, textiles, steam, mining, forges, mills and much more. Add to your STEM experience with a visit to MSOE’s Grohmann Museum for an art experience highlighting: • simple machines • roads and bridges • the dark (…and • f arming and sometimes funny) agriculture • energy and power • the history of ages of medicine • construction technology and many more. Contact MacKenna Krupa at (414) 277-2333 to craft your custom Grohmann Museum experience. Visit grohmannmuseum.org to learn more.
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We Energies STEM Center at MSOE Entrance Bus Drop Off
Viets Field Parking Structure Entrance (Paid Parking)
Water St. Lot (Paid Parking)
YELLOW Free parking RED Free 2-hour parking on Saturdays BLUE Free 10-hour parking on Saturdays
Welcome to the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE! 1444 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI
Getting to Our Location
Contact Us
We are located on the corner of Broadway and Water Street and you will see the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE sign above our main entrance.
If you have any questions or concerns about your visit, please contact our office at stem@msoe.edu or (414) 277-7238.
The map above indicates some of the free street parking available near the STEM Center. Additional metered street parking is available around MSOE’s campus as well.
Campus Safety Contacts If you cannot reach us in an emergency, please contact Campus Safety: Emergency: (414) 277-7159 Non-emergency: (414) 277-7169
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Parking
