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We want you to rave about NanoDays, but first please provide 1-2 sentence descriptions of each of your events.:
The Children's Museum of Houston hosted NanoDays "The Science of the Super Small WonderWeek from March 25 - April 2. Throughout the week, visitors participated in hands-on explorations at our Science Station, Junktion tables, and Inventor's Workshop. During the weekend, Rice University graduate student and faculty volunteers facilitated more hands-on learning, presented hourly demonstrations, conducted Ask-a-Scientist presentations, and helped our visitors construct a giant balloon carbon nanotube.
What worked well with your events?:
We worked with graduate students and faculty from Rice University to recruit "guest scientists" to volunteer during NanoDays. Since these were new activities and a relatively new concept for most staff, we organized trainings a few days prior to the event. We also met with our Rice University volunteers to train them on how to facilitate the activities as well as to acquaint them with how visitors learn in an informal setting. Our visitors really enjoyed the Exploring Solutions and Exploring Ferrofluid activities.
What wasn't as successful?:
We didn't use a few of the kits, because we felt that they wouldn't work well in our environment with our young visitors. We had to modify the Exploring Liquid Crystal activity, because the materials were poisonous.
What would you do differently next year?:
We would conduct more trainings with our floor staff. Next time, I would also distribute handouts or cards pointing visitors towards more resources related to nanotechnology/nanoscience.
What changes did you make to what NISE provided to fit your institution?:
We adapted the instruction guides to fit our activity templates and incorporated helpful hints for our facilitators. We also modified the materials. For instance, instead the poisonous liquid crystal substance, visitors experimented with hot (hair dryer) and cold (ice cubes) materials on different liquid crystal products (sheets, mood rings, thermometers).
Tell us if there is anything that the NISE network could have done to make your NanoDays more of a success:
I thought the NanoDays Manual was very helpful. I think our visitors would have liked a bookmark or handout of resources where they could find more information about nano.
Type of Event:
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Who are you?:
Who else in your institution helped organize and participated in this event?:
Keith Ostfeld, Director of Exhibit Development
Karen Milnar, Director of Gallery Programs
Christine Broadston, Visitor Programs Educator
Who did you collaborate with from <em>outside</em> your institution? (Please note if this relationship began with NanoDays):
Carolyn Nichol, Rice University, CBEN Associate Director for Education
Doug Natelson, Rice University, Associate Professor
Denise LeCrone, Rice University
Please list any featured presenters or speakers (if any):
Doug Natelson, Rice University, Associate Professor
Graduate Students from Rice University
Please tell us how your NanoDays were marketed.:
Information was provided in our newsletter (the Mar/Apr edition) and on our website. We also issued a press release.
