Programs

Program

DNA Nanotechnology

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Image of DNA

“DNA Nanotechnology” is a facilitated, hands-on activity exploring deoxyribonucleic acid, a nanoscale structure that occurs in nature. Visitors extract a sample of DNA from split peas and put it in an Eppendorf tube to take home. They learn that nanoscientists study DNA to understand its biological function, and that they also use it to make other nanoscale materials and devices.

Program

Shrinking Robots!

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Image of "Stickybot" robot

COMING SOON! "Shrinking Robots!" explores the possibility of nanobots. Visitors learn what a robot is and how small real robots are today. They also learn that nanobots don't exist (yet) and consider some of the challenges in creating nano-sized robots. In the second part of the program, visitors design and build a robot toy from recycled and craft materials.

Program

Sizing Things Down

Added by Anders Liljeholm | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

This is a card game which can be played with museum visitors. Visitors will learn the relative sizes of various objects. They compete against each other (or you) to organize their hand of cards into lists of objects from largest to smallest.

Program

Exploring Properties - Surface Area

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Exploring Reactions

"Exploring Properties - Surface Area" is a hands-on activity demonstrating how a material can act differently when it's nano-sized. Visitors compare the reaction rate of an antacid tablet that is broken in half to one that is broken into many pieces.

Program

Exploring Measurement - Solutions

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

"Exploring Measurement - Solutions" is a hands on activity illustrating how small nano is. By sniffing a series of diluted scent solutions, visitors discover that nano-sized particles may be too small to see, but they're not too small to smell!

Program

Exploring Measurement - Ruler

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Exploring Measurement

"Exploring Measurement - Ruler" is a hands-on activity investigating just how small a billionth of a meter is. Visitors attempt to cut a paper ruler down to a nanometer-sized sliver. They learn that nano is too small to see, and certainly too small to cut with a pair of scissors!

Program

Inkjet Printer

Added by Anders Liljeholm | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Through hands-on activities, visitors learn how inkjet printers produce tiny, precise drops of ink. They examine printed paper with magnifying glasses, see a few demonstrations of how liquids behave differently at the small scale, and see an explosive demonstration of how ink is forced out of an ink cartridge.

Program

Exploring Materials - Liquid Crystals

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Exploring Liquid Crystals

"Exploring Materials - Liquid Crystals" is a hands on activity demonstrating that the way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its structure on the nanoscale. Visitors investigate the properties of a heat sensitive liquid crystal and make their own liquid crystal sensor to take home.

Program

Treating Tumors with Gold

Added by Lisa Regalla | Museum of Science Boston

Macroscale gold

COMING SOON! "Treating Tumors with Gold" presents promising research being conducted at Rice University in Texas. Through videos and demonstrations, the program considers the following questions: What is a tumor and what causes it to spread? What is a gold nanoshell and how does it kill tumor cells? What does the future hold for targeted cancer therapies?

Program

Exploring Materials - Ferrofluid

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Exploring Ferrofluid

"Exploring Ferrofluid" is a hands-on activity demonstrating that a material can act differently when it's nano-sized. Visitors investigate the properties of ferrofluid and magnetic black sand, learning that the surprising difference in the behavior of these two materials is due to size.

Program

Exploring Forces - Gravity

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Exploring Forces

"Exploring Forces - Gravity" is a hands on activity in which visitors discover that it’s easy to pour water out of a regular-sized cup, but not out of a miniature cup. They learn that size can affect the way materials like water behave.

Program

Exploring Structures - Buckyballs

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Image of precut buckyball shape being folded

"Exploring Structures - Buckyballs" is a hands on activity in which visitors fold up a precut shape to make a model of a buckyball. They learn that buckyballs are tiny, soccerball-shaped molecules made of carbon.

Program

Exploring Tools - SPM

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Image of magnet model of SPM

"Exploring Tools - SPM" is a hands on activity in which visitors use a flexible magnet as a model for a scanning probe microscope. They learn that SPMs are an example of a special tool that scientists use to work on the nanoscale.

Program

Exploring Measurement - Human Body

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

"Exploring Measurement - Human Body" is a hands on activity in which visitors mark their height on a height chart and discover how tall they are in nanometers. They learn that it being a billion nanometers tall sounds impressive, it doesn't mean they're super tall: it means a nanometer is super small.

Program

Lotus Leaf Effect

Added by Greta Zenner | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Image of visitors testing how water behaves on a lotus leaf

"Lotus Effect” is a cart demo that demonstrates how nature inspires nanotechnology by sharing how nanoscale features on a surface can influence how a material behaves at the macroscale. Visitors learn that lotus leaves (and many other plant leaves) are self cleaning and repel water, due to nanoscale features on the leaves. During the program, visitors compare how water interacts with regular lettuce and leaves that exhibit the lotus effect by dropping water onto the different types of leaves.

Program

Same Sides

Added by Stephanie Long | Science Museum of Minnesota

This ten-minute play stimulates conversation about the impact the field of nanoscale science may have on our lives. It also gets the audience thinking about how we should respond – both individually and collectively – to those potential impacts.

Program

Wheel of the Future

Added by Stephanie Long | Science Museum of Minnesota

Museum visitors are contestants in a game show that encourages them to learn more about nanotechnology. The three rounds included here cover an introduction to nanotechnology; provide information on nanoparticle solar cells; and express the concerns people have for nanotechnology. New rounds of information can be plugged in as needed. The show is also designed to work with other hot topics, such as .....(genetically modified food, perhaps.) Other museums have used the title Wheel of Nanoscience.

Program

World of Carbon Nanotubes

Added by Tim Miller | Museum of Science Boston

This program introduces the carbon nanotube, its discovery and applications.

Program

Magic Sand/Nanosurfaces

Added by Kimberly Duncan | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Image of visitor observing how Magic Sand interacts with water

“Magic Sand” is a cart demo that demonstrates how changing nanoscale changes in a material can affect how that material behaves at the macroscale. Visitors learn that hydrophobic surfaces repel water and that “magic” sand repels water because of a nanoscale hydrophobic coating on the grains of sand. During the program, compare how magic sand and regular sand interact with water.

Program

Balloon Nanotubes (giant hanging model)

Added by Kimberly Duncan | University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Nanotube Balloons” is a large display made of balloons that can be used to draw visitors to a program on nanotechnology. Visitors observe how the carbon atoms are arranged in a carbon nanotube. The nanotube balloon model can be pre-constructed by museum staff, or visitors can help to build it. The balloon structure provides an intriguing hook for other programs, like “Forms of Carbon” or the “World of Carbon Nanotubes”.

Program

Balloon Nanotubes Tabletop

Added by Kimberly Duncan | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Image of visitors helping to build a carbon nanotube out of balloons

“Nanotube Balloons” is a cart activity that introduces visitors to the structure and properties of carbon nanotubes. Visitors learn how the carbon atoms are arranged in a carbon nanotube, and that nanotubes are extremely strong and have interesting electrical properties. During the program, visitors help build a model of a carbon nanotube---out of balloons!

Program

Nanoparticle Stained Glass (classroom program)

Added by Greta Zenner | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Image of students using nanoparticle solutions of gold and silver to make a stained "glass" window

“Nanostained Glass” is a classroom activity that has three parts: a presentation, a lab activity and an art activity. During the presentation, students are introduced to the connections between art and science, with a focus on the connection between stained glass and nanotechnology. Students also learn that gold and silver behave differently at the nanoscale. During the lab activity, students synthesize nanoparticles of gold and silver. Lastly, students use the nanoparticle solutions they synthesized to create a stained “glass” window to take home with them.

Program

Nanoparticle Stained Glass (cart program)

Added by Greta Zenner | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Image of visitors making take home cards containing nanoparticle stained glass

“Nanoparticle Stained Glass” is a cart program that introduces the connection between medieval stained glass artisans and nanotechnology. Visitors learn that the red and yellow colors in stained glass windows come from nanoparticles of gold and silver embedded in the glass. During the program, visitors listen to a short presentation, and then have the opportunity to participate in two hands-on activities: making a collaborative stained glass window with pre-made nanoparticle solutions containing silver or gold and making a take-away card that contains a small piece of nanoparticle stained “glass”.

Program

Cutting It Down to Nano

Added by Kimberly Duncan | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Image of two visitors cutting paper strips down the the nanoscale

“Cutting it Down” is a cart demo that communicates scale through a hands-on activity. Visitors learn that the nanometer size scale is very, very small—and that we can’t use macroscale tools to manipulate nanoscale materials. During the program, visitors are challenged to cut a small strip of paper in half as many times as they can—or until they reach the nanoscale, which ever comes first.

Program

Forms of Carbon

Added by Greta Zenner | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Image of presenter testing the conductivity of graphite

“Forms of Carbon” is a cart demo that demonstrates how the nanoscale arrangement of atoms dramatically impacts a material’s macroscale behavior. Visitors learn about the structure and properties of four different forms of carbon. During the program, visitors interact with models of four different forms of carbon. Visitors also observe the conductivity of graphite (using a simple circuit and an everyday pencil) and the hardness of diamond (using a diamond scribe to cut glass).

Program

Intro to Nano - Stage

Added by Tim Miller | Museum of Science Boston

This is a stage presentation, designed for audiences of 11 and up, intended to give a broad overview and introduction to the subject of nanotechnology. The talk attempts to answer three basic questions about nanotech: How is It New, What Can It Do, and Do You Care?

Program

Intro to Nano Cart Demo

Added by Anders Liljeholm | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

COMING SOON! This will be a cart demonstration reviewing the basics about nanotechnology. Visitors will learn that nanoscale objects are very small and have surprising properties because of their size. They will also learn about some of the possible technologies that may lead to. They will mix chemicals, turn potatoes black, generate electricity, and see invisible light in their exploration.

Program

Snowflakes: Nano at its Coolest

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

"Snowflakes" is a public presentation that introduces nanoscale science through the subject of snowflakes. Visitors learn that the complex structure of snowflakes results from the nanoscale arrangement of water molecules in an ice crystal, and that snowflakes are examples of self-assembled systems studied by nanoscientists. During the program, visitors watch videos of snowflakes growing and observe real ice crystals growing in a chilled chamber.

Program

Energy & Nanotechnology

Added by Tim Miller | Museum of Science Boston

Commercial Wind Installation

Energy & Nanotechnology is a slide show presentation, designed for medium-to-large audiences, exploring the potential of nanotechnology to contribute to improved sources of energy. The program consists mostly of a lecture, with a few live demonstrations and audience interactions.

Program

Nano Dreams and Nano Nightmares

Added by Stephanie Long | Science Museum of Minnesota

Nano Dreams and Nano Nightmares is a big comedy about small things for families with children under the age of ten. This fifteen minute play incorporates puppetry and humor to introduce audiences to nanoscale science.

Program

Tiny Particles, Big Trouble!

Added by Rae Ostman | Sciencenter

Tiny Particles, Big Trouble explains why some nanoscale science and technology is done in the controlled environment of a clean room, what clean rooms are like, and how scientists help keep the clean room clean. During the program, visitors sniff scents that are too small to see, try on the head-to-toe suits that scientists wear in clean rooms, and manipulate pretend silicon wafers with tweezers.

Program

Same Sides

Added by Stephanie Long | Science Museum of Minnesota

This ten-minute play stimulates conversation about the impact the field of nanoscale science may have on our lives. It also gets the audience thinking about how we should respond -- both individually and collectively -- to those potential impacts.

Program

Surface Area

Added by Anders Liljeholm | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

This is a cart demo about how nanoparticles behave differently, in part because they have a high surface area:volume ratio. Visitors learn that smaller particles have a much higher proportion of their atoms on the surface. Visitors unfold paper cubes, drop alka-seltzer in water, turn potatoes black with iodine, and see fireballs to understand how surface area changes as you get small.

Program

Let's Talk

Added by Stephanie Long | Science Museum of Minnesota

This ten-minute play stimulates conversation about the impact the field of nanoscale science may have on our lives. It also gets the audience thinking about how we should respond – both individually and collectively - to those potential impacts.

Program

The Electric Squeeze

Added by Anders Liljeholm | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

This cart demo is about piezoelectricity - how some crystals produce electricity when you squeeze them. Visitors learn about the history of piezoelectricity, how it's used, and how it's applied in nanotechnology. They make electric sparks, handle models and listen to cheesy music.

Program

Biobarcodes: Antibodies and nanosensors

Added by Anders Liljeholm | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

This cart demo is about Biobarcodes, a nanomedical technology that allows for massively parallel testing for disease diagnosis. Visitors learn about antibodies, how each antibody binds to a unique protein, and how biobarcoding uses nanoparticles, antibodies, DNA and magnetism to detect diseases earlier than we could detect before. Visitors assemble a jigsaw puzzle that models how Biobarcodes™ work.

Program

Aerogel

Added by Anders Liljeholm | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

This cart demonstration introduces the nanomaterial aerogel, a glass nanofoam. Visitors learn how aerogel is made, how well it insulates, and learn about its other unique properties. They see real aerogel and feel how well it insulates.

Program

Let’s Talk About It

Added by Stephanie Long | Science Museum of Minnesota

This ten-minute play stimulates conversation about the impact the field of nanoscale science may have on our lives. It also gets the audience thinking about how we should respond – both individually and collectively - to those potential impacts.

About Programs

“Programs” are public interactions facilitated in-person by museum professionals. Here you’ll find all the materials you need to host many kinds of programs, including large lectures, small floor demonstrations, comedy and theater pieces, and quiz and game shows.

NISE Net includes some of the premier science program developers in the United States—people with years of experience in creating engaging experiences around complex scientific concepts. The programs offered here were vetted through a process of prototyping, audience research, and in-depth partnerships with scientists.

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A community of professionals engaging the public in nanoscale science

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