NISE Network Blog
Partner Highlight: The EcoTarium’s Lunar Launch in Worcester, Massachusetts
September 27, 2019
Rachel Quimby, Public Programs Coordinator/Museum Educator
Trois, deux, un…blast off! This past July, visitors from as close as next door and as far away as Paris, France gathered around the upper plaza of the EcoTarium in Worcester, Massachusetts to celebrate 50 years since Apollo 11 headed into space. Along with cheering on two chemical rocket launches, attendees of the Lunar Launch Party also sent stomp rockets flying, blew the tops off film canister rockets using a mix of acids and bases, drove model rovers through an obstacle course, designed and tested small-scale parachutes for astronauts, and watch planetarium shows. Read more about Worcester on the Moon events and festivities.
Paul Martin awarded ASTC Leading Edge Award for Leadership in the Field
September 17, 2019
Catherine McCarthy, Science Museum of Minnesota
Congratulations to Paul Martin - the 2019 recipient of the ASTC Leading Edge Award for Leadership in the Field (non-CEO). Paul has tirelessly served on the leadership team of the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network) since 2005. Kudos...
Partner Highlight: Pop-Up Science with NASA at the Michigan Science Center in Detroit, MI
August 30, 2019
Charles Gibson, Director of Outreach
In mid-July, the 23rd annual GLOBE meeting took place in Detroit just a few miles from the Michigan Science Center (MiSci). MiSci had spent months planning Apollo 11 50th Anniversary programs between July 16th-20th, from the Global Rocket Launch Challenge...
Partner Highlight: Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Moon Landing
August 30, 2019
Alicia Morgan, Vice President of Education and Programs
The Frontiers of Flight Museum’s “Moon Day” in Dallas celebrates the past, present, and future of space flight and has become the largest annual space-themed exposition in Texas. Moon Day was established in 2009 by the Museum, in collaboration with the National Space Society of North Texas, as a family-oriented annual event on the Saturday closest to the anniversary of the first Moon landing. This year, the Museum’s 10th Anniversary Moon Day focused on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and was held on July 20th—the exact date of the first landing on the Moon.
Partner Highlight: Adventures in Exploring Earth and Space at tag! Children’s Museum in St. Augustine, Florida
July 29, 2019
tag! Children’s Museum, St. Augustine, Florida
When Michele Wiles, Director of Play and Discovery for the emerging Children’s Museum of St. Augustine spearheaded our partnership with NISE Network last winter, it paved the way for bringing truly unique STEAM-based learning experiences to our community. From our first Exploring Earth and Space family workshop event to an event for Big Brothers Big Sisters and their littles, the Earth & Space toolkit has brought enthusiasm and new partnerships into our emerging children's museum and community.
Highlighting NISE Network partner events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing
July 26, 2019
Kayla Berry, Museum of Science
NISE Network partners all across the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing all throughout July. Here are just a few samples of partner events that were shared online through social networking sites with the NISE Network.
Partner Highlight: Making the Most of the Explore Science: Let’s Do Chemistry Kit
July 25, 2019
Dr. Anna Cavinato, Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR
When the Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society (Chemistry Club) received the NISE Net's Explore Science: Let’s Do Chemistry kit in September of 2018, it was like early Christmas! The Eastern Oregon University (EOU) Chemistry Club has a long standing tradition of bringing hands-on science activities to the local community and the region. We are located in the northeastern corner of Oregon, in a largely rural area where often schools have limited resources to provide lab-based activities, and the kit seemed immediately the perfect match for our outreach events.
July 20th is the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing! Network Partners Join in the Celebrations
June 28, 2019
Kayla Berry, Museum of Science
Fifty years ago on July 20. 1969, astronauts of Apollo 11 stepped foot on the lunar surface capturing the imagination of the nation, and the world. Now, half a century later, it’s time for a new generation to experience the magic and majesty of that first “one small step for [man], one giant leap for [man]kind.” Many NISE Network partners have been preparing for the upcoming 50th anniversary by planning and hosting Moon landing celebration events. We’ve pulled together just a snapshot of Network partner events taking place all across the country.
Partner Highlight: Sustainability and Citizen Science at Long Island Children’s Museum
June 5, 2019
Claire Flynn, STEM Initiatives Program Director, Long Island Children’s Museum
Through the Sustainability Fellowship program, Long Island Children’s Museum created a Milkweed Garden and offers programming that allows visitors to participate in the the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, a citizen science project based at the University of Minnesota. I chose this project because I wanted to create an experience that involved our visitors in citizen science and gave them a way to consider how climate change is affecting our local community.
Partner Highlight: The Universe Unfolds at the Children's Museum of Brownsville
June 3, 2019
Felipe Pena, Executive Director, Children's Museum of Brownsville
The Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition has been a great addition to the Children’s Museum of Brownsville ! Although there was an initial challenge of how to fit it into our existing space, which is a bit odd in dimension, the...