NETWORK NEWS
A video highlight from the recent NISE Network Earth & Space partner meeting
This video features meeting highlights and a few of the 300 attendees who participated in the meeting held at Arizona State University. The Network would like to extend our thanks to all meeting participants for taking part in the gathering and sharing your knowledge and experiences with other Network partners. View meeting video and resources
Explore Science: Earth and Space 2019 toolkits have arrived and other important updates
For the recipients of the physical Explore Science: Earth & Space 2019 toolkit, there are a few important reminders and updates to make note of.
- If you received a physical toolkit, please make sure you pull out your activity boxes and check the materials lists to ensure you have all materials ahead of hosting your events. Check your toolkit materials
- Revised custom graphics for Space Guess Quest game have been reprinted and shipped to partners who received the physical toolkit. Space Guess Quest game revisions and new materials
Surprise! A refill kit for Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit recipients will be shipping to you soon
Thank you partners for all your efforts hosting Let's Do Chemistry events this past fall! The NISE Network is excited to be able to support kit recipients with additional refill materials designed to help museum and scientist partners continue to engage public audiences in hands-on activities that increase positive attitudes toward learning about chemistry. Read more about the refill kit and opportunities to use the Let's Do Chemistry kit throughout the year
Small Museums, Big Role: Powering the NISE Network article published in ASTC's March/April 2019 issue of Dimensions
Small science centers and museums represent about half of NISE Network member organizations, and from the beginning of the Network more than 13 years ago, small organizations have had a huge influence on our activities, the professional development and networking opportunities we offer, and above all, the difference that our work has made in local communities. Read the full article published in Dimensions
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join the NISE Network at the upcoming Association of Children's Museum (ACM) InterActivity Conference
Will you be attending the ACM InterActivity Conference taking place May 8-11 in Denver, Colorado? If so, be sure to check out all the NISE Network activities taking place! Find our booth in the Marketplace May 9-10, attend one of our Network-related sessions, and be sure to join us for the NISE Network Partner Breakfast on Saturday, May 11, from 7:30-8:45am, at the Hyatt Regency Denver (no RSVP required). Learn about all NISE Network activities taking place at ACM
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
The NISE Network runs a series of free online workshops as professional development opportunities for our partners, and to create more channels for partner-to-partner sharing. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events
Celebrate Earth Day with NISE Net: Activity Connections and How Visitors Can Contribute Local Environmental Observations to NASA Science
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
2-3pm ET / 11am-12pm PT
Happy Earth Day! Get a quick refresher on the many environmental connections across the Explore Science kits, and learn more about NASA visualization resources that will help connect your visitors to ongoing efforts to monitor Earth's dynamic systems. Learn more and sign up
Stories & STEM: Explore the Power of Narrative to Engage Audiences and Enliven Hands-on Science Programs
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
2-3pm ET / 11am-12pm PT
Learn about the Collaborative Summer Library Program's 2019 summer learning theme: "A Universe of Stories," and other resources and projects that use story and narrative to engage participants in STEM topics. Learn more and sign up
Big or Small, Make Your Apollo 50th Anniversary Celebration Events a Moonshot!
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
2-3pm ET / 11am-12pm PT
July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first humans landing on the moon and communities all across the US are celebrating this historical achievement. Join us for a sharing of Apollo related programming ideas and resources and hear from Network partners presenting about their own event plans and how they're connecting with local experts to celebrate the Apollo 50th anniversary. Come get inspired! Learn more and sign up. Learn more and sign up
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
The Science Behind the 2019 Explore Science: Earth and Space Toolkit - Exploring the Universe (Recorded)
During this online workshop, our guest presenter facilitated a discussion of NASA missions and research unlocking the secrets of the universe and the science behind three of the 2019 Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit activities - Expanding Universe, Space Guess Quest, and Static Electricity. NISE Net team members show best practices for activity set up, facilitation, and tips and tricks. View the recording and resources from the 3-12-2019 online workshop
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing - Apollo 11
July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first humans landing on the Moon on July 20, 1969 as part of NASA's Apollo 11 lunar mission. The NISE Network has links for your Apollo Moon Landing 50th Anniversary events. Recently added Apollo resources include:
- NASA Explore Moon to Mars posters and video
International Year of the Periodic Table: Celebrating the 150th anniversary
The periodic table of chemical elements is one of the most significant achievements in science, and is a unique tool that enables scientists to predict the appearance and properties of matter on Earth and in the rest of the universe. Learn more about International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT) resources, including an updated version of The Periodic Table Song
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
Supporting Positive Attitudes Towards Learning Chemistry Through National Let's Do Chemistry Events
This past fall, Network partners including museum partners and members of the American Chemical Society hosted Let's Do Chemistry public events reaching over 210,000 people across the U.S., receiving positive reactions from their event participants. Partners hosted their events in a wide range of locations reaching a wide variety of audiences. This partner highlight shares event findings and provides a fun, visual summary of national events
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES
Museum of Science, Boston debuts Forum Archive webpage
The Museum of Science recently made their forums available for free download from their new Forum Archive website. There are currently four forums available for download covering climate hazard resilience, disease outbreaks, human genome editing, and self-driving cars. Through the archive, the Museum hopes to make current and future forums more accessible to formal and informal educators across the nation for hosting their own public dialogue programs. Read more about the Forum Archive
Real science done by real people: Take part in Citizen Science Day on April 13th
Citizen science is real science done by real people just like you. Explore the many scientific projects available to take part in, from counting squirrels in your neighborhood to measuring night sky brightness, from snapping stream selfies to help monitor stream health to capturing tree height to help NASA scientists understand the gain or loss of biomass from land and space. Learn more:
- SciStarter Citizen Science Day resources and projects
- GLOBE Observer Toolkit for informal educators
- NASA eClips' short video Real World: Citizen Science
CAISE published it's Year in Informal STEM Education
Check out "A Resource Round-Up of 2018," a yearly review of important publications, trends, and notable moments. View now
STEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Discover activity ideas for incorporating current science, engineering, and technology content into events, special programming, holidays, and seasonal activities by visiting http://www.nisenet.org/seasons/.
April
Global Astronomy Month
National Poetry Month
4/7: World Health Day
4/6-4/14: National Robotics Week
4/12: Yuri's Night - A global celebration in commemoration of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human to venture into space on April 12, 1961
4/13: Citizen Science Day
4/21-4/27: Chemists Celebrate Earth Week; Theme: "Take Note: The Chemistry of Paper"
4/22: Earth Day
4/25: National DNA Day
NASA's Night Sky Network - What's up for April 2019
Learn about astronomical events taking place this month
2019 Year-long events
- Moon Landing 50th Anniversary - Apollo 11 (July 20) and Apollo missions. The NISE Network has links for your Apollo Moon Landing 50th Anniversary events
- NASA 60th Anniversary
- International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements, 150th Anniversary
- 2019 Summer Reading - A Universe of Stories 2019 Summer Learning Program
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
Earth and Space News
Fossil site reveals day that meteor hit Earth
A trove of fossils discovered in North Dakota provide a glimpse of the apocalypse that all but ended life 66 million years ago, clearing the way for the evolution of mammals. Read more about this discovery
NASA's InSight mission: Taking vital signs of Mars
The InSight lander's heat probe, designed to dig up to 5 meters below the surface and measure heat coming from inside the planet, was deployed in February but has hit a hard spot, literally. Scientists suspect the probe hit a rock or gravel layer and are working to analyze the situation - read more about the 'mole'
Today's forecast: High 5F, Low -143F
NASA's InSight mission is taking daily weather measurements (temperature, wind, pressure) on the surface of Mars. Check out the weather report
Chemistry News
Colorado chemist updates tattoo chemistry with an eye toward medical diagnostics
Scientists are developing functional tattoos that change color in response to health changes such as fever or excessive sun exposure. Learn more about how nano-sized hollow microcapsules are used to create this functional tattoo
Watch American Chemical Society's Reactions video to celebrate Women's History Month in the International Year of the Periodic Table, Women of the Periodic Table
Synthetic Biology News
Behold the beefless 'Impossible Whopper'
Impossible Foods is teaming up with Burger King to introduce a vegetarian patty that mimics the look and taste of beef. Currently only available in St. Louis, if successful the company will expand the beefless alternative throughout the rest of country. Read more about the Impossible Whopper
NATIONAL CONFERENCES
Association of Children's Museums (ACM) Interactivity 2019
May 8-11, 2019
Denver, Colorado
Read more about ACM 2019
American Alliance of Museums (AAM) 2019 Annual Meeting
May 19-22, 2019
New Orleans, Louisiana
Registration open
Visitor Studies Association (VSA) Conference
July 10-13, 2019
Detroit, Michigan
Learn more
American Chemical Society (ACS) 2019 Fall National Meeting & Expo
August 25-29, 2019
San Diego, California
Registration now open
Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual Conference 2019
September 21-24, 2019
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Read more about ASTC 2019