MINNEAPOLIS -- Students in the Twin Cities metro are learning about how important taking math and science today can help them build a career in the future.
The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual science, technology, engineering and math summit on Tuesday, Jan. 26.
One hundred fifty middle schoolers from three different school districts attended the event in Hopkins which featured some of the area's largest high tech employers.
From the medical field to high tech communications, some of the top employers in the metro have one thing in common - science.
The idea of the summit was to show kids early how learning to love math and science can score them a career in a field that's growing and changing.
"A lot of these science and technology classes now are leading to the types of professions that will be available in the future so that's very important that they become interested in these now and get the education they need so that they are applicable in the future," Mike Lehmann with the STEM Summit.
Kids who may have wondered why they had to take algebra are finding answers at the summit.
"I've learned a lot of different ways for math to be used for different jobs. I didn't know there were this many jobs for math," said Nina Wagner, a 6th grader at Minnetonka Middle School West.
The kids could be doctors, engineers and scientists in the making.
"It's really cool because you get to see all the technology that's coming out and that they're developing," said middle school Jonathon Meyer.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions and learn from business leaders like Medtronic and Qwest.
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