Over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend (January 15–19), eighteen members of the Michigan Materials Society (MMS) ventured from Ann Arbor to the Twin Cities for the organization’s first professional development retreat.

“This was the first time MMS organized a professional retreat, and it was a great success,” said MMS President Matteo Carcassi ‘26.

Braving frigid temperatures, students participated in a full slate of activities. Highlights included an exclusive tour of the 3M Innovation Center—where participants received a special link to apply for jobs—and a behind-the-scenes look at the General Mills Pilot Plant.

“This trip gave students an idea of what a potential position would look like at these companies," said Carcassi.

Students agreed that the trip was invaluable for networking and understanding the day-to-day life of materials scientists outside academia.

In addition to the corporate visits, MMS toured cultural hotspots such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, admired the icy beauty of Minnehaha Falls, and, of course, made time for a little shopping spree at the Mall of America. They were even able to take in the U-M vs the University of Minnesota hockey match, where the Wolverines prevailed, 5–1.

With overwhelmingly positive feedback, MMS hopes the professional retreat becomes a permanent fixture.

“I hope future MMS boards can continue some version of this trip,” said Carcassi. “It’s a big undertaking, but maybe alternating years or choosing closer destinations would allow it to become a tradition."