NEO

The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Outreach (NEO) Program is offered to graduate students, education outreach directors, and post-docs from nano-science and technology research organizations who are working in education and outreach efforts. By joining the NEO program, participants become part of the growing NISE network and help create ongoing capacity and sustainability for collaborations between research agencies and informal science education institutions.

NEO is designed to provide professional development for scientists in science inquiry teaching and learning; science activity design; diversity issues and strategies; some learning research and theory; and public communication skills. Participants apply this knowledge in their own outreach activities, as well as when participating in NISE activities and programs with their local science museums, and by supporting and helping organize Nanodays activities.

Program design

In the initial Inquiry Workshop, NEO participants engage in Inquiry-based science learning and are introduced to current theory and research related to informal science learning, with particular attention paid to issues of diverse student audiences.

Participants will also spend time working on communication skills for non-scientist audiences; will receive training in learning design; and, with their partner, will work to design an inquiry-based activity that they can use in their outreach project. Participants will be brought into the NISE Network, learning about the science being done by their peers and connecting with leaders from other NISE museum strands.

At the Extension Workshop before Annual Meeting, the NEO group will follow up on their work to date, and explore additional topics determined by the group's needs. Participants then join the rest of the network at Annual Meeting sessions and workshops, and present posters of their research and outreach.

While primarily based on the Exploratorium's successful Institute for Inquiry programs for scientists, NEO also draws upon work done by a number of organizations to create appropriate curriculum, including University of Wisconsin-Madison's Exploring the Nanoworld; SRI International's NanoSense Curriculum; materials from Stanford's Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA); and Cornell's Nanobiotechnology Center, among others.

NEO outcomes

Outcomes for program participants:

Teaching and learning:

• Increased understanding of how people learn (theory and research findings)
• Understanding of and experiences with science inquiry learning
• Ability to design and implement inquiry-based science lessons and activities for outreach programs

Communicating to the non-science public:

• Increased understanding of the need for public communication
• Improved presentation skills
• Knowledge of resources for communicating about nano science and technology

Increasing diversity in nano science and technology:

• Ability to improve nano science outreach efforts by applying inquiry-based teaching strategies
• Understanding of what "nontraditional" students need to succeed in science, and explicit strategies for helping to meet those needs

Networking:

• Participate in NISE network
• Professional relationships with other graduate student participants and with the informal science education community

Outcomes for the NISE Network:

NEO contributes to the broader capacity of the NISE Network by developing scientists early in their career who are strong in communicating with the public, designing activities, and teaching science using inquiry-based methods.

The NEO program has developed a number of valuable connections with the science community, the most notable of which is the Materials Research Society (MRS). MRS is an enthusiastic supporter of the NEO program, both in recruiting participants and providing contacts within the research community.