NISE Network Mini-grants
The NISE Network is making available a limited number of small stipends to support initiatives by NISE Net partners to engage their local audiences in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology topics. Below is a list of the mini-grant projects funded by NISE Net. Download the list in CSV format (readable in Excel).
Eligible projects needed to fit into at least one of three categories:
- New efforts to integrate nano into existing programming,
- New efforts to reach new or traditionally underserved audiences with nano programming (including partnerships between museums and community organizations or diversity-serving organizations), or
- New partnerships between museums and nano researchers.
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
Integrating nano into week-long engineering event
As part of our annual Discover STEM Week, The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History plans to organize a nano engineering theme day.
Thanksgiving Point Institute
Science Cafe Program
We will develop a Science Cafe Program- 8 total cafes, occurring monthly from January to August, focusing on nano science and engaging scientists and patrons at each of our venues.
KidsQuest Children's Museum
Science in the Park
Science in the Park is a free hands-on science outreach project. This new summer program will feature activities led by KidsQuest Children's Museum staff and focus on nanotechnology science education.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
program for middle school students
Turtle Bay proposes to develop and implement an educational outreach program for middle school students focused on nano sciences, bringing high-quality, cutting edge educational programming to students at their schools.
Explorit Science Center
Nano in existing traveling outreach school programs
We would like to add Nano to our existing traveling outreach school programs. This would include adding Nano stations to our Family Science Night and Classroom Adventure programs.
Arizona Science Center
Online lecture series
Arizona Science Center plans to increase science education with an emphasis on nanotechnology and nano-science through an online lecture series.
Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (The Discovery)
nano-themed field trips
The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (The Discovery) proposes to provide nano-themed field trips by creating adapted curricula and educational programming based on national and state standards.
Children's Museum Tucson
SciTech Festival
CMT is participating as a host institution in the 2015 Arizona SciTech Festival and requests funding to provide free educational Nano programming to the community participating in the Festival.
National Ag Science Center
school and after school programs.
Develop curriculum modules using NANO kit lessons for use in school and after school programs.
Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
Preschool STEM Lab
Preschool STEM Lab will immerse preschool age children in thematic units based on STEM. Children will gain critical school readiness skills and develop a love for the sciences.
Adventure Science Center
Bilingual activities
ASC will collaborate with university, public school and community partners to develop, field test and share bilingual (English/Spanish) nanotechnology activities with elementary and middle school students, families, and teachers.
Hands On! - A Child's Gallery
Adding science to hospital arts-only programming
Hands On! will teach Nano Science to children and families of Mission Children's Hospital in order to add science to their arts-only programming and allow us to serve new children.
Kentucky Science Center
nano makerspace
University of Louisville's Micro/Nano Technology Center and the Kentucky Science Center will prototype a nano makerspace at Woodford County Middle School.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM)
mobile Nano Cart
To ensure the sustainability of nanoscience education at LASM and consistently utilize nano kit activities received from Nisenet, we will create a mobile Nano Cart education program for museum visitors.
Children's Science Center
Activities at The Lab
The Children's Science Center plans to expand current use of NISE activities in mobile programming to offer nanotechnology activities at The Lab, our first physical site, opening May 2015.
University of Southern Mississippi
nano-related workshop at the 2015 Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival
Presenting to new audiences a nano-related workshop at the 2015 Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival after modifying the NISE Network product, Selected Books about Nano from the nisenet.org catalog.
Pink Palace Museum
help special needs groups access Nanotechnology, two nano-themed science nights.
Our proposed project aims to help special needs groups access Nanotechnology information through two nano-themed science nights.
Sci-Tech Discovery Center
incorporating complementary materials into the NISE Net Nano mini-exhibition
To update resources and activities in the current Nano Lab at Sci-Tech by incorporating complementary materials into the NISE Net Nano mini-exhibition obtained through a Previous grant from NISE
Arkansas Discovery Network
Nano at festivals across Arkansas
A nanoscale station will be integrated into five festivals across Arkansas. Visitors will participate in a tiny drawings activity that emphasizes the concept of scale.
Rice University
Expanding existing program serving teachers of high-needs students
We propose expanding our existing program serving teachers of high-needs students to include a Nanoscience Engineering Speaker Series with expanded inquiry physics, biology and chemistry lessons supporting nanoscience and engineering.
Oklahoma WONDERtorium
LEGOs will be utilized to engage children and adults and educate visitors about nanoscience
LEGOs will be utilized to engage children and adults and educate visitors about nanoscience. Nanotechnologies will be represented via challenges, signage, and models in an inviting building space.
University of Arkansas
Family Math and Science NanoNight
The Family Math and Science NanoNight project will be built around the concept of formal/informal nanotechnology education dissemination through five regional school Family Math and Science Night events.
Imaginarium of South Texas
Nano activities with local girl scouts
The project envisioned are Hands-on Nano activities in which will consist of local girl scouts. Girl Scouts will explore and scientifically investigate how nanotechnology is part of our daily experience.
El Paso Exploreum
Nano at minor league baseball games
The El Paso Exploreum's Education Days will bring nanotechnology to an estimated 12,000 students at three El Paso Chihuahuas minor league baseball games through take-home workbooks and hands-on displays.
Maritime Explorium at Port Jeff Harbor
NanoArt
NanoArt: Engaging the public about nanotechnology through an artist-in-residence program inspired by Nanodays kits.
Mohawk Valley Community College
professional development workshop for K-12 teachers
This proposal addresses the creation of a professional development workshop for K-12 teachers using NISENET partner materials.
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Nano-bio cart
Brooklyn Children's Museum will add to its weekly public programs a high-impact nanoscience experience using a new portable nano-bio cart, animals from the museum's living collection and strong visual aids.
The New Children's Museum
Winter of Nano-Science series
Winter of Nano-Science series (winter of 2014-15) will include hands-on activities and meetings with professional scientists, and will complement our traveling exhibit It's a Nano World.
Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology
Traveling Science Programs
Mini-grant funding will allow us to expand outreach by creating two new Traveling Science Programs focused on engaging audiences and informing them about the exciting new field of Nanoscale technology.
Science Center of Iowa
preschool and kindergarten program, with professional development for instructors
The Science Center of Iowa will incorporate nano programming in Pint Size Science, a project that provides a learning curriculum for preschool and kindergarten children and professional development for instructors.
Headwaters Science Center
science theater
HSC requests support to reinvigorate our science theater capability. We will learn and perform two established NISE Network scripts and build a special effects, "Nano-theater" to perform original puppet productions.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Integrating nano into week-long program
The Museum will schedule five days of nano-themed programming from April 6-10, 2015 with eight hands-on activities, a performer, and faculty from the University of Michigan.
Discovery Center Museum
Outreach to underserved and under-represented audiences at public events such as county fairs, ethnic festivals, and scout camps.
Discovery Center will reach underserved and under-represented audiences by providing NanoDays activities at public events such as county fairs, ethnic festivals, and scout camps.
Science Central
Expand afterschool enrichment programs with the Urban League and the Boys and Girls Club
Expand existing afterschool enrichment programs with the Urban League and the Boys and Girls Club to include labs and demos about emerging NANO technology and careers to engage high-risk students.
Gateway to Science Center, Inc.
"Nano in the Classroom"
Gateway to Science presents "Nano in the Classroom" by combining in-classroom visits by our staff, teacher development and lots of hands-on activities.
Howard University
NanoExpress mobile lab activity
Develop an activity for the NanoExpress mobile lab and the HNF website that describes topological Insulators.
DaVinci Science Center
Integrating Nano into "Science on the Move" Program
Expand upon our Science on the Move Program by developing new content in the fields of bio-technology and alternative energy, with specific focus on nanoscale-enabled developments.
National Children's Museum
training to integrate nanoscience concepts in free family nights at the museum
Funding will support STEAM based staff training to integrate and confidently present nanoscience concepts in our hands-on make and take projects during our scheduled free family nights at the museum.
Morris Museum
series of nano science cart activities
The Morris Museum will develop a series of nano science cart activities that will be available for children during Super Science Saturdays and Family Festivals and for community outreach.
Children's Discovery Museum of West Virginia
Nano science kits
The CDMWV will create nanoscience-based, hands-on demonstration and activity kits to give to elementary schools in McDowell County, the poorest county in West Virginia.
Port Discovery Children's Museum
train library site staff / offer a Small Wonders program with Nano mini-exhibition
Port Discovery (PD) will transport Nano mini exhibition to a location in the community (library/ school/ nature ctr.), train host site staff / offer a Small Wonders schedule staffed by PD.
WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology
School and library rural outreach; public programming
WonderLab will develop new programs around the NISE Nano mini-exhibition: 1) interactive nanoscience demonstration for schools, libraries and other venues and 2) public program showcasing local nanoscience research and technologies.
University of Vermont
Special event; scientist-museum collaborations
We will create an event independent of NanoDays, including a presentation at the local science center and a series of cart activities for use with their visitors.
Tulsa Children's Museum
Summer camps
TCM requests a mini-grant to develop a multi-day spring break and summer camp program to include a nano-oriented curriculum.
The Leonardo
Girls summer camp
The Leonardo seeks NISEnet funds to develop and implement a week-long Girls Full STEAM Ahead camp! Girls will experience hands-on art, science and technology based activities exploring Nano-scale science.
The Discovery Museums
Universal design modifications; special audiences event
The Discovery Museums propose to use Universal Design principles with accessibility partners and special audiences to modify 3 to 5 Nano Kits to increase their accessibility for all audiences.
Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Summer camps
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis will incorporate nanotechnology and nanoscale science into its successful STEM Camp program scheduled for June 2014.
Children's Museum of Brownsville
School outreach programs
In partnership with the University of Brownsville's Physics Circus, we will develop a show about Nano to be used in conjunction with Nano kits for outreaches at local underserved schools.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
School field trip program; school workshop; ongoing public programming
Stepping Stones Museum for Children seeks to integrate nanoscale science and technology content into existing programming that will impact general admission visitors, group visitors and youth program participants.
South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
School science family nights
The mini grant will allow us to enhance existing programs with nano content and offer 3 programs to Title 1 schools free of charge.
Science Spectrum
Exhibits and signage
Expansion of the Nano Mini-Exhibition to Include 3 or More New Hands-On Activity Stations and Information Panels.
Science Factory
Bilingual signage and outreach; exhibits
We will expand our nano-related permanent exhibit offerings by making durable versions of existing nano activities, adding new activities and bilingual signage, and inviting local participation from bilingual community groups.
Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center
Summer camp
Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center seeks $3000 to fund creation and implementation of an "All The Small Things" Day-Camp, a week-long nano-themed summer camp as part of our popular day-camp offerings.
Rochester Museum & Science Center
Summer camps; mobile cart demonstrations
To integrate nano into existing camp curricula for ages 9-15yrs and floor cart demonstrations, allowing us to reach new audiences and strengthen partnerships with RIT and other local nano researchers.
Powerhouse Science Center
Summer camp; staff training
Following a brief professional development session for Discovery Museum staff, two science camps use nanokits and interdisciplinary science lessons to present concepts of scale and principles of nanotechnology.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
School family science nights
Funds will be used to develop a Nano based family science night for local elementary schools. The program will include a 30 minute auditorium presentation followed by table top activities.
North Museum of Natural History and Science
Nano flash mob experiments
Museum staff will collaborate with local organizations to provide nanoscience experiments in a flash mob format. Flash Science will reach under-served audiences by performing experiments in crowded, non-traditional areas.
Newark Museum
School programming for 9th grade biology students
The Newark Museum proposes to create a unit that connects Nanotechnology to the Biology Core Curriculum Standards, then presenting these adapted lessons to ninth grade students next spring.
Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience
Exhibit of nano science imagery
We would like to partner with Hastings Museum and exhibit nanoscience images by NCMN researchers, along with supportive Nanokit activities. This would expand nanoscience into rural, underserved audiences in Nebraska.
Museum of Discovery
Musical adaptation of Alice in Nanoland
A musical adaptation of Alice in Nanoland will introduce nanoscience concepts to new audiences at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Arkansas, and throughout Arkansas at partnering organizations.
Montana State University - Extended University
Outreach to Native American and rural girls
Reach underserved rural and Native American girls from all over Montana at the annual Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) event with nanotechnology sessions and female STEM / nanotechnology role models.
Miami Science Museum
Exhibit space highlighting local nano research
This Mini-Grant will be used to create a flexible scientist spotlight space within our nano exhibits to showcase current nano research being conducted by local South Florida scientists.
Maryland Science Center
Nano stage program; staff and volunteer training
We will create a nanotechnology stage program incorporating hands-on experiences for the whole audience, supported by a training session on nanotechnology for our staff and volunteers.
Marbles Kids Museum
Field trip program to accompany Mysteries of the Unseen World large-screen movie
Marbles Kids Museum proposes to create a 45-minute, hands-on field trip program focused on nanoscience and technology for grade 4-8 students to accompany the documentary Mysteries of the Unseen World.
Maine Discovery Museum
Outreach to schools with Native American students
Develop a mini residency by combining 3 existing programs with demonstrations from Nano and Making Stuff kits into a cohesive, multi-day unit. Involve 2 schools with American Indian student populations.
Lafayete Science Museum
Nano exhibits
The Museum is currently developing a series of science stations for the 1st floor lobby. We will be including stations that highlight nano-themed concepts.
Imaginarium Science Center
Exhibit space
Our project would provide a complement to the Nano Mini Exhibit through the relocation, expansion, and enhancement of our current nano exhibit area, the Nano Lab.
Golisano Children's Museum of Naples
Exhibit space
This mini-grant will fund the development, fabrication, and implementation of a Nano Exploration Room. This will be a temporary interactive exhibit space at the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples.
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Programs for Latina girls in collaboration with scientists
FCMoD will partner with female CSU nanotechnology scientists to provide high school Latina girls with interpretive skills, immersive nano-laboratory experiences and the opportunity to develop outreach prototypes for their scientists.
Fernbank Science Center
Teacher workshop
Develop a workshop, "What's Big About Nano?", for 8th grade science teachers that will provide materials and education to successfully implement nanoscience into their current curriculum.
Exploration Place, The Sedgwick County Science and Discovery Center
Spanish language events and activities
Through "Tecnologia NANO esta aqui y es el futuro" Exploration Place will engage Hispanic families in nanoscience at Hispanic events using Spanish-speaking staff, NISE Net activities and live shows.
Durango Discovery Museum
Middle school outreach programs
Create a unique, educational and humorous school assembly and hands-on outreach program for middle school students exploring the exciting, advantageous and, often sneaky, uses of nanotechnology in sports.
Discovery Place, Inc.
Nano and society workshops
We will offer a Science and Society Workshop as part of the curriculum offered through the Discovery Place Education Studio at the Bank of America STEM Center for Career Development.
Discovery Center
Nano mural in STEAM Lab
Nano-themed artwork for STEAM Lab at Discovery Center to accommodate Science Saturdays streamed from Oak Ridge National Lab and summer interns from MTSU's Noyce Scholars program.
COSI
Nano health and medicine cart demonstrations and events
Expanding Health and Medicine related Science a la Cart demonstrations and adult educational events by educating guest on how Nano science is a part of their lives and medicine.
Children's Museum in Oak Lawn
School field trips
Our project is to provide free nano-themed field trips for low-income schools to increase stem awareness amongst 3rd grade students. "Intro to Nano Field Trip"
Children's Discovery Museum
Integrating nano into ongoing programming; staff and volunteer training
The Children's Discovery Museum will create a two-part project including adapting nano activities for our Innovation Station and the Nano exhibit and a training program for staff and volunteers.
California Science Center Foundation
Summer camp
Develop a nanoscale science and technology curriculum for the 2014 Summer sessions of Curator Kids Club, part of the California Science Center's free Community Youth Programs for underserved local youth.
California Academy of Sciences
Nano in nature program for young audiences
Invite young children (ages 3 -5) to become a Nano Nature Detective. Conduct activities that encourage children and their families to investigate nano in nature through familiar and intriguing subjects.
Above & Beyond Children's Museum
Exhibit for young audiences
Above & Beyond's Science Lab will be used to spark interest in technology and science in children at an early age through staff-led projects and a hands-on, interactive exhibit.
Bootheel Youth Museum
Exhibit and theater space
The BYM will remodel space to house the Mini Nano Exhibit, Nano theater and create a nano themed exhibit with a local appeal called: How is Boll Weevil Eradication Nano?
The Bakken Library and Museum
Middle and high school and adult outreach
The Bakken Museum would like adapt our existing Nano Outreach Program to serve audiences of students in middle and high schools as well as adults.
Science Zone
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
Our goal: travel Nano to multiple Wyoming communities taking elementary students through the exhibit/hosting a "family science night" as the culmination event--students guide parents through the exhibit.
KidsQuest Children's Museum
Field trip programs
Goal: Two new field trip options consisting of hands-on Nanotechnology science programming. These companion programs would be integrated as part of our existing field trip programs for school age children.
Washington State University Vancouver
Summer camp
The objective of the mini-grant initiative is to revise the Nano Summer Camp curriculum to include hands-on synthesis of nanostructures by purchasing a tube furnace and green chemistry kit.
University of New Mexico
After school program
The University of New Mexico's Nanoscience and Microsystems program will partner with Children's Choice, a not-for-profit program serving underrepresented youth, to introduce nanoscience into the existing afterschool program.
spectrUM Discovery Area
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
The spectrUM Discovery Area will offer a field trip bus providing free transportation for Montana children to visit the Nano exhibit and meet nano researchers from The University of Montana.
Discovery Center of Idaho
Student assembly and teacher training
We will provide STEM-based teacher training during the regular school day by presenting a nano-focused assembly to the students while training the teachers.
Alaska Museum of Natural History
Adding nano to programs specific to AK
We want to develop/modify nano activities that are specific to Alaska. These activities would supplement our science nights, outreach to remote Alaska, and add experiential elements to Museum exhibits.
Challenger Learning Center of Alaska
"Nano Space" program
This project will align NISE Net resources into a "Nano in Space" module. This module will be utilized as a stand alone workshop and integrated into existing curriculum
Lied Discovery Children's Museum
Adding nano to programs
To further expand its Nano programming through a partnership with the University of Nevada Las Vegas and local science-related businesses to incorporate professional scientists into the programming experience.
Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
Summer camp
This grant would pay for the creation of 30 hours (1 full week) of nano curriculum for a summer camp program directed at kids grades 4-6.
Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
Adding Nano to programs - kits
Our hope is to create kits for our Science Saturdays program that exposes children to nano concepts and can be used year round in various ways.
National Ag Science Center
Summer Camp
Create an Ag Science Summer Camp program at a school site or Boys and Girls Club site to incorporate agriculture and nano science and career connections.
Challenger Space Center Arizona
Summer camp
Challenger Space Center Arizona will utilize the NISE Network Mini-Grant to infuse nano content into our 13th Annual "Adventures in Space" Camp, serving approximately 1,200 K-8 students during Summer 2013.
Children's Museum Tucson
Nano programming at Science Festival
CMT is participating as a host institution in the 2013 Arizona SciTech Festival and requests funding to provide free educational Nano programming to the community participating in the Festival.
James Madison University
K-12 teacher resources
The goal of Shanandoah Valley Nanoscience Outreach Collaboration is to help K-12 teachers bring nanoscience into classrooms in coherence with the requirements of Virginia's standards of learning for science.
Danville Science Center
Adding nano to programs
The Nano to You project is designed to bring awareness of and spark interest in nano science and technology to teachers and youth audiences through outreach to Title I schools.
Creative Discovery Museum
Adding nano to programs
Develop after school programming, a large scale theater show, a workshop and distance learning program for middle school students. Provide after school programming for under-served elementary school students.
Pink Palace Museum
Nano nights
Our proposed project will focus on disseminating Nanotechnology information and activities through two Nano-themed Science Nights: one for area school students and their families, the other for museum members.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
Adding nano to programs
Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem is an interactive educational auditorium program that will provide students with an in-depth look at the fast growing area of study called Nanoscience.
McWane Science Center
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
McWane Center will train students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in exhibit interpretation and hands-on science activities for middle school students in Alabama's Black Belt.
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Game/app
We propose to develop a game that centers on a mission to assemble a nanoshuttle to destroy a tumor. Players will be educated on different properties of the nanoshuttle.
San Antonio Children's Museum
Nano night
We are requesting funding to offer a "Nano Night" program to educate the under-served population in our community during our monthly "Free Kids Night" event.
Sci-Tech Discovery Center
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
Nano cart programming will complement Sci-Tech Discovery Center's new permanent Nano Exhibit and enable expanded programming experiences in nano science for the center's 75,000 annual visitors.
Arkansas Discovery Network
Nano programming at Science Festivals
A nanoscale station will be integrated into three science festivals across Arkansas. Visitors will participate in a hands-on model that demonstrates how nanoparticles are used to make tangible materials.
Saint Louis Science Center
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition - camp
The Saint Louis Science Center will develop a lab based nanotechnology camp (ages 14-18). The camp will focus on the synthesis of nanoscale materials and comparisons to their macroscale counterparts.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Rural school outreach
The Museum will launch a traveling assembly style program in 2013, targeting rural school districts. Grant funds will aid in developing a nano themed program.
Buffalo Museum of Science
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
Incorporate handheld technology into the mini-exhibition by giving floor staff I-pad/other tablet units to engage in nano conversations with our museum visitors.
Long Island Children's Museum
Outreach program
LICM Outreach program, Science of the Small, engages children with the concept of nanoscience through hands-on demonstrations to discover the fascinating innovations in modern nanoscience and technology.
Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST)
Nano Travel Science Program
We would create a new format for a NISE net book Alice in Nanoland to be used for a Nano Traveling Science Program plus library kits.
Children's Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST)
Podcasts
CMOST is proposing to facilitate conversations between tweens and nanotechnology experts that will become podcasts. These conversations will answer questions about nano, its future and why they should be interested!
CRISP MRSEC (Yale Univ/Southern CT State Univ)
Expanding regular outreach to urban communities
We will expand our informal science outreach efforts to offer more frequent public outreach events to urban communities in CT, targeting New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford.
Duluth Children's Museum
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
To create a field trip experience complimenting the Nano mini-exhibit for intermediate elementary grades in Duluth and surrounding regions. These grades are currently under served by the museum.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Elementary and middle school nanoscience outreach
AAHOM will create an Outreach program to introduce middle and elementary school students across our region to nanoscience using hands-on activities and materials.
Kansas Children's Discovery Center
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
This project will support the NISE Mini-Nano exhibit during February and March by providing a 3 hour nanotechnology training, 3 nanotechnology carts and materials, and offering a spring break camp.
Birck Nanotechology Center, Purdue University
K-12 Outreach
NanoTrees: Develop stationary and interactive displays and activities to encourage and engage K-12 students to explore nanotechnology as it relates to trees and plant materials and products produce from them.
Science Central
Nanotechnology lab for after school and camp programs
Developing a Nanotechnology lab for after school enrichment, school groups and camps, and creating a storage and display area for the Nano activities we currently display on the exhibit floor.
Discovery Center Museum
Carbon playground
Discovery Center in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin is installing a Carbon Playground.
Science Center of Iowa
Adding nano to exhibits
The Science Center of Iowa seeks to integrate nanoscale science and technology content into new and updated signage around our permanent exhibits to further enhance nano awareness with our visitors.
Children's Discovery Museum of West Virginia
Traveling K-12 program
The Museum will launch a traveling assembly style program in 2013, targeting rural school districts. Grant funds will aid in developing a nano themed program.
Liberty Science Center
Middle school workshop
"It's a Nano World" will introduce Nano Scale Technology to middle school students via a series of nano activities to understand scale, current technologies, and future applications.
Port Discovery Children's Museum
Expanding programing around the Nano mini-exhibition
"How do you Nan-Know?" enhances the pre-existing Nano exhibit at Port Discovery by encouraging visitors to consider their values when making decisions about using products developed with nanotechnology.
Delaware State University
Kits for K-12 education
DSU-OSCAR Partnership: Bringing Nanoscale Optics Research Concepts to K-12. This project will allow the development and dissemination of educational kits to the schools on the mid-Atlantic region.
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
Camp for underrepresented youth
Expanding their "Amazing Stuff" nano camp program to specifically serve underrepresented youth in their area.
Montana State University -- Extended University
Rural outreach program
Creating a series of intensive learning opportunities with ten rural schools through video conferencing, activity kits, and networking/social media to support meaningful learning experiences with underserved communities unable to travel to campus for NanoDays.
WOW! Children's Museum
Training, Girl Scout badges
Planning to deepen audience experiences by expanding nanotechnology programming. Plans include training more education staff and volunteers on new activities, offering longer activities, offering more programming to local public libraries, and better supporting local Girl Scout troops in obtaining badges related to nanoscience.
Natural History Museum of Utah
Training for high school and college students
Collaborating with the University of Utah's Nano Institute to develop the museum's "Youth Teaching Youth" program for high school students and Nano Institute grads. The goal of the program is to increase the museum's overall capacity to deliver nanoscale science programming, and provide college science students with training to increase their science communication skills.
California Polytechnic State University
Undergrad lab programming and K-12 summer camps
Integrating new nano content into the existing Materials Engineering programming, including work done in the undergrad lab as well as with K-12 students in summer camps.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
Teacher kits and training
Creating four new nanoscale science kits, and holding a workshop with local teachers to introduce and train teachers on these materials.
Imiloa Astronomy Center
Outreach sessions with grades 4-6
Hosting ten outreach sessions with grades 4-6 in rural and geographically isolated areas. The focus will be to raise awareness to nanotechnology and tie math curriculum (exponents, scientific notation, powers of ten) to nano content.
Arizona Science Center
Podcasts
Creating a series of five or more nanoscale science related podcasts that will function as a standard audio tour for their current science galleries.
Imaginarium Science Center
Add Nano to exhibits
Creating a sustainable "NanoLab" in the already existing exhibit "Animal Lab."
Jackson State University
Training, camp, and events with high school and middle school students
Planning to target African American students during Spring semester 2012, as they incorporate nanoscience-related projects into training with grad and undergrad students, events with high school and middle school students, and a one-day nano camp.
Marbles Kids Museum
Summer camp
Integrating nanoscale science into its very successful summer camp program by thematically-linking current programs to modified NanoDays kit and NISE Net catalog resources.
Louisville Science Center
Hands-on demos for underserved youth
Fostering a relationship with the University of Louisville micro/nano lab to target underserved youth in hands-on nano demonstrations.
Norfolk State University
Summer Camps
Integrating nanoscience activities into existing summer camps with the Children's Museum of Virginia.
SciWorks Science Center
Adding Nano to Exhibits, Volunteer Training
Integrating nano into its "Field Station," exhibit by means of incorporating graphics, content and a specimen to detail the nanostructures of the Blue Morpho butterfly. In addition, as part of long term goals, more nano will be incorporated into daily programming by hosting a nano volunteer training workshop.
University of Puerto Rico
K - 16+ educational materials
Targeting Hispanic students and integrate nano content into the "Water Quality and Water Purification" educational materials for K-16+.
Miami Science Museum
Summer Camp, Translations
Developing and delivering a nano science themed camp class during the 2012 Summer Camp season. This includes translating the NISE Net "Bump and Roll" exhibit text into Spanish and Creole, as well as translating five more nano demos into Creole for use by diverse audiences on the museum's floor.
Arkansas State University Museum
Nano Night
Debuting "Nano Night" at the museum, an evening event happening twice a month for six months. Extensive evaluation over the course of the program will take place to better inform future work.
Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas
Traveling Puppet Show
Using their STEM Traveling Puppet Show (STPS) to introduce the complex content of nanoscience to children and adults on-site as well as in their outreach to students in nearby underserved communities.
Austin Children's Museum
Field Trips, Summer Camp
Incorporating nanoscience activities into field trips and their all-girls "Engineer It!" summer camp. Through this nano-focused opportunity, they will increase awareness and understanding of nanoscale science, as well as raise attention to careers in this field.
Imaginarium of South Texas
Training, Family Nano Festival
Training seven college students to build the museum's capacity to host activities on the floor. Also vastly enhancing outreach by initiating the "Family Nano Festival," which will be comprised of five events in rural underserved colonias.
Science Spectrum
Adding Nano to programs
Expanding programming to include new nanoscience hands-on activities and curriculum to enhance understanding of the nanoscience, its applications, and potential careers for young children and families.
Regional Science & Discovery Center
Adding Nano to programs
Introducing nanotechnology to the public through expansion to three programs: a Boy Scout overnight at Arnot Mall, a Spring break event at Corning Youth Center, and a summer camp for at-risk students at the Science and Discovery Center.
Maine Discovery Museum
Highlighting Nano in exhibits
Increasing awareness of and interest in nanoscience among children and families by making connections to existing exhibits, enhancing the "Hunt for Nano" scavenger hunt, adapting materials for use on the website, and creating a brochure with info on current nano research, career options and the societal implications of nanotechnology.
The Discovery Museums
Youth volunteer training, Nano Night
Hosting two workshops to train youth volunteers to enhance their capacity to deliver programs, including the new NanoDays@Night programming in early summer.
Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium
Highlighting nano in exhibits
Integrating real-world examples of nanotechnology into their existing exhibits and creating the "Nanotrail." The trail will start at the museum's small permanent exhibit on nano, and visitors will be provided a map of various stops to make in the exhibit. Content will range from consumer products to alternative energy.
Maritime Explorium
Adding Nano to programs
Identified six areas of current exhibitions with opportunities to highlight nanotechnologies, and through a partnership with SUNY, will develop content for each of the six areas. Additional content will include language at three different levels of sophistication to accommodate different ages and learners at the museum.
Science Discovery Center at Oneonta
Workshop for middle school students
Establishing a collaboration with the California NanoSystem Institute and develop a nanotechnology-themed "Science Saturday" workshop to expand outreach to middle school students.
Gateway to Science Center, Inc.
Adding nano to programs
Integrating nano content into a variety of existing programs, including afterschool Science Clubs for grades 1-6, week-long summer camps for grades 4-6, and annual family events that take place four times per year.
Paper Discovery Center
Theater show, afterschool program
Adding a new theatrical performance to their afterschool curriculum. This performance will explore the science, application, and societal implications of nanotechnology.
Omaha Children's Museum
School group workshops
Executing three nanoscience workshops with Liberty Elementary School grades 3-6, leading to a Nano Science Day for the entire school where students from the workshop will lead demonstrations for their classmates.
Orpheum Children's Science Museum
Rural outreach program
Addressing a need for rural community outreach by bringing informal science opportunities to special science events, fairs and local schools in the seven county area the museum serves. The "NANO science and engineering program" will include hands-on activities, stage presentations, as well as evaluation to produce new data on how small institutions can better support rural communities and create a strong regional science education infrastructure.
Children's Discovery Museum
Afterschool program
Collaborating with Illinois State University and the UNITY Community Center to create an eight-week "NanoWorld" afterschool program.
North Dakota State College of Science
Scenario program
Integrating NISE Net activities into a scenario program where students use the nano concepts to solve relevant real-world issues. Students will develop a product and teach others about its science, application and the societal and ethical implications surrounding it.
The Bakken Museum
Add Nano to programs
Planning to integrate nanoscale science content into its award winning "Science Assets" outreach program.
Headwaters Science Center
Adding Nano to exhibits
Planning major refurbishing to their "Water Vortex" exhibit to adapt and use with Ferrofluids activity as a nanotechnology exhibit piece on their floor.
University of Minnesota Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Teacher workshop
Developing a program that will utilize participants from their successful RET program in a nanoscale science teacher workshop, with the goal of reaching as many as ten-times the participation of the RET, and ultimately increasing reach to middle and high school students in the area.
Exploration Place
Training and expansion to teen volunteering program
Expanding current chemistry-related activities to include nanotechnology through the ChemKids Teen Volunteering program. Participants will be trained to implement activities on the floor, in summer camps, and in the live performing space.
North Museum of Natural History and Science
Afterschool program
Expanding existing afterschool programming to include a three-week nano unit. Work will be done in collaboration with Neighborhood Services of Lancaster, and will give students the opportunity to use NISE Net resources, visit two nano businesses, and work with college student mentors.
Da Vinci Science Center
Theater shows
Adapting two NISE Net programs into interactive theatrical presentations to be used on their floor to engage audiences in dialogue about nanoscale science and engineering concepts, as well as discuss societal and environmental implications.
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Kits tailored to ages 2-12
Making nanoscience a part of daily programming through the development of eight nanoscience kits on four themes, tailored to ages 2-12 and used with Scout programs, day camps, classes and in the "Nature Nook" hands-on area of the museum.
Newark Museum
Camp for Girl Scouts
Working with Girl Scouts Hearts of New Jersey to create the "Observation: From Nano to Macro" camp to introduce Girl Scouts in Newark and Jersey City, NJ to careers in STEM.
Princeton University
Kinesthetic motions activity
Developing an activity relating to the structure of the atom using kinesthetic motions and nanoscale science content to help students "act out the components of the atom."
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Library Outreach
Expanded an education program to four library locations in adjacent counties, focusing on rural communities where there is no local access to science museums. Work with local researcher to create new green nanotechnology educational materials.
St Louis Science Center
Nano Exhibit Prototype
Used funds to prototype and evaluation an exhibit to introduce visitors to nanotechnology. Worked closely with area university nano scientists and graduate students. Exhibit will be completed with other funds and placed in their revised Nano Center.
South Florida Science Museum
Field Trip Program
Added nano content to Science Passport field trip program, an educational initiative providing learning opportunities to disadvantaged youth.
ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum
Summer Camp, Afterschool
Develop Summer GECOS (Girls Engineering Club of ScienceWorks): Nanotechnology lessons and kit for use in a summer camp and after school program. Developed a 25-minute science show on nano. Adapting the "Horton Senses Something Small" program for use in their Head Start to Science program that serves low-income preschoolers.
Science Factory Children's Museum
Summer Camp
Created a week-long, half-day summer camp entitled "Nanotechnology in Our World." Camp included a trip to the labs at the University of Oregon.
Science Center of Iowa
Library Outreach
Developed "Our Small World," a nanoscience outreach program for libraries designed to align with the 2011 Collaborative Reading Program theme of "One World, Many Stories." Developed new partnership with a professor at Iowa State University's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.
Port Discovery
Nano Cart
Created three carts showcasing nano activities and trained volunteers/interns to implement the activities. Created a number of additional exhibit components and activities to augment the nano mini-exhibition.
Pink Palace Museum
Community Outreach, Training
Created and disseminated nano suitcase exhibit to five community organizations in Memphis, expanding partnerships with those organizations. Provided training for individuals presenting nano curriculum, extra materials if needed, and acted as resource.
Palouse Discovery Science Center
Hands-on Display, Add Nano to Programs
Created a hands-on display entitled the NanoCorner with a designated area for nano exploration. NanoDays kit items have been incorporated into the PDSC's "Self-Service Science Room."
Oklahoma WONDERtorium
Classroom Programs
Creating three classroom programs that include nano content: "Sand ROCKS!" for 3rd grade students, "Itsy Bitsy Eensy Weensy Science" for 4th grade students, and "Plant Virus Exploration" for 5th grade students.
Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST)
Summer Camp
Integrated nano more extensively into summer camp program. Introduced and trained additional personnel in delivery of nano programming. Preference for two camps was given to students from a region where 75% of students are living at or near poverty level. Introduced nano content into a JCC overnight program.
Long Island Children's Museum
Theater Show and Workshop
Presented The Amazing Nano Brothers Juggling Show and held a workshop on the science of the super small with hands-on experiments and discussions focused on innovations in nanotechnology.
Lied Discovery Children's Museum
Staff/Intern Training
Provided professional development trainings for staff and interns on nano content and NanoDays kit activities. As a result of training, facilitated nano demonstrations are done daily on museum floor. Adapted and implemented activities for children five and younger.
Las Cruces Museum of Natural History
Teacher Kits
Created a series of teacher kits to be loaned out, free of charge, to teachers in southern New Mexico. Themes for kits: Nano 101; Nano Applications & Tools; Nano Medicine; and Nano & the Environment.
Iridescent
Create Nano Workshop, Community Outreach
Created and ran two hour workshops for upper elementary and middle school students on basic concepts in nanotechnology. Program reached three underserved schools in South Los Angeles and a large female audience through a partnership with Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Cool Science Week
Added nano to annual "Cool Science Week" program. Brought in a guest scientist to host a small demonstration/workshop, be interviewed on a local NPR affiliate station, and present an evening lecture for older audiences.
Edgerton Explorit Center
1 day of nano in summer camps
NO REPORT YET
Duluth Children's Museum
Add Nano to Programs
Added nanoscience to many regular programs. Made connection with local universities.
Don Harrington Discovery Center
Summer Camp
Created a nano summer camp for 5th and 6th graders.
Discovery Center Museum
Afterschool Program, Library Outreach
Expanded their nanoscale science programs to their five daily afterschool programs (95% of students eceive free or reduced lunch). Created a week's worth of nano activity bins for the program using materials from NISE Network, University of Wisconsin NSEC, Franklin Institute kits, and Discovery Center. Trained youth volunteers and volunteer director on nano cart demos, completed and installed library learning nooks in six local libraries.
Detroit Science Center
Field Trip Program
Expanded their Hands-On Interactive Programs (HIP), a 3-hour in-depth study of one science concept, to include nanoscale science, technology, and engineering. Program highlighted career fields and emphasized successful women and underrepresented minority professionals in the field.
Creative Discovery Museum
Add Nano to Programs
Integrated nano concepts into three areas of programming: Science Theater shows and hands-on workshops, outreach programs, and family science nights provided to area schools.
Children's Museum of Science and Technology
Add Nano to Exhibits
Incorporated information about nanotechnology into existing exhibits. Placed nano buttons on exhibit floor to highlight nano topics in the gecko cages, the solar house, the butterfly house, and more. Develop a nano brochure for visitors. Created a nano scavenger hunt for school field trips.
Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Teacher Workshop
Developed a workshop for middle school teachers related to nano. Partnered with a nanoscale science researcher to help present content.
Buffalo Museum of Science
Nanotechnology Hall
Created a 700 sq. ft. hallway with rotating hands-on activities and information about nanotechnology.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Summer Camp, Field Trip, Distance Learning Program
Incorporated NISE Net activities into existing summer day camp programs. Designed two new field trip oportunities that engage students in ethical and policy discussions around new nanoscale technologies. Created a videoconference program for schools: Nanoscale Science and the Future of Food.
Arkansas Discovery Network/Museum of Discovery
Materials for Regional Outreach, Training
Created nano kits to be used by ADN partners for their regional outreach. Hosted a training workshop. Kits will enable educators to introduce nano in underserved areas of the state.