The Inclusive Audiences work group (formerly known as the "Diversity, Equity, and Access (DEA)" group) fosters and encourages the NISE Network’s efforts to reach a diverse audience with regard to geography, dis/ability, gender, race/ethnicity, language, and income. Members of this group offer a national approach to the work currently being done in Informal Science Education. Through workshops and partnerships with organizations dedicated to underserved populations, Inclusive Audiences imparts its mission to the NISE Net community as well as the broader field.
Goals
NISE Net seeks to increase understanding of nanoscale science and technology among underserved and underrepresented audiences so that:
- they may engage in this emerging technology as informed citizens
- we may inspire future scientists and engineers
- we increase the capacity in the ISE field to bring nanoscale science and technology to new audiences
Approach
The NISE Net strives to reach a diverse audience with regard to geography, dis/ability, gender, race/ethnicity, language and income. The Inclusive Audiences team acknowledges the NISE Net's existing work and proposes making extra efforts to reach those audiences more thoroughly.
- Geography: Although the NISE Net has connected with small museums and rural libraries, Inclusive Audiences encourages the broader Network to spread throughout rural regions in all states. This will be done by building partnerships with existing regional networks and other informal learning organizations that serve rural areas.
- Dis/Abilities: Through an intensive charrette focused on universal design, NISE Net has worked diligently with field experts to revise and refine four of its public programs. Inclusive Audiences advocates for greater inclusion of all people, despite level of ability, and seeks to make more NISE Net materials accessible through the use of video captions and accessible website features.
- Gender: Inclusive Audiences advocates for a better understanding of how NISE Net programs and exhibits connect with girls and is looking for opportunities to share NISE Net products with other informal learning organizations that serve girls.
- Race/Ethnicity: Inclusive Audiences actively shares NISE Net programs and products with diversity-serving organizations. The goal is to create ongoing partnerships with these organizations to better serve underrepresented communities in nanoscale science education. Efforts are underway to modify outreach materials and programs for greater accessibility and distribution.
- Language: Inclusive Audiences is committed to making a representative set of NISE Net programs and products available in Spanish. These offerings will include graphics, bilingual audio exhibit labels, the NanoDays kit, key programs and the Nanomedicine Forum.
- Income: The Inclusive Audiences team encourages museums and other informal learning organizations to connect NISE Net activities to existing avenues for free days and programs.
Universal Design Resources
Guidelines for creating accessible exhibits and programming within the NISE Network:
Spanish Language Translations
Based on input from NISE Network partners, we have adapted our most popular programs for Spanish-speaking audiences! Follow the link below to explore Spanish versions of several NISE Network public programs, as well as selected other resources. We have placed the highest priority on translating products that directly serve public audiences. Professional resources, such as instructional materials and educator’s guides are only available in English at this time. For more about our process and a link to educational materials translated into Spanish click here.
Diversity Focused STEM Partners
- Engineers Week Coalition Diversity Council
- National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
NISE Network Diversity Workshop
The NISE Network held a Diversity Workshop in Washington, D.C. on July 8-9, 2009. This gathering provided both NISE Net team members as well as representatives from almost 20 diversity-serving organizations with an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with each other. More information and presentations are available at the Diversity Workshop Page.
Ways You Can Get Involved
Inclusive Audiences is enthusiastic about engaging underrepresented audiences in NISE Net learning experiences, exploring programmatic offerings, and receiving input on materials to make them more accessible and relevant. Listed below are just a few examples of how you can contribute to this effort.
- Use the NanoDays kits or other activity sets with your outreach programs, with your Title 1 schools, with girls clubs, with your underserved community segments
- Invite a diversity-serving organization to your institution for a nano-themed activity day
- Train youth from different backgrounds to deliver some of the NISE Net activities
- Help us brainstorm more ways to effectively include more diverse audiences
- Share NISE Net programmatic efforts, including translations, that you've tried with underrepresented audiences
Contact
Please let us know how you think we can better serve all audiences.
For more information about Inclusive Audiences, please contact Veronica Garcia-Luis
Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
