Newsletter: June 2016

 

 

New Building with Biology materials have been updated on the website!

All new materials and resources for the hands-on activities and forums have been updated online.

• Kit Contents - Learn more about the individual hands-on activities included in the kit.
• Forums - The newest forum, Should We Edit the Genome? When, Why, and How Much?, and its resources is now available.
• Digital Kit Contents - Digital versions of all the educational and professional materials provided in the physical kit are online and free to download.
• Training Videos - Training videos for the hands-on activities are now available online.
• What's in your Building with Biology Kit webinar - Join us for the June 21st webinar that will provide an overview of all the educational and professional development resources provided in your kit, and get your questions answered!

 "NanoDays Collection" printed book shipping soon to active NISE Network partners
The NISE Network will soon be shipping a box of printed and digital materials to selected NISE Network partner museums and universities located in the US. The NISE Network leadership wants to thank partner organizations for your involvement with the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) and for all your efforts to engage public audiences in nanoscale science, engineering and technology over the past years. We are pleased to share a compendium of all the NanoDays activities developed over the past ten years. For most partner organizations, we are only mailing one box so please share these resources with your colleagues and local collaborators. 

→ Recap from the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) Interactivity 2016
Thank you to partners who stopped by the NISE Network booth and who attended the Network sessions around museums and community partnerships. The presentations and resources from these sessions are now online and available to download. 

→ National Informal STEM Education (NISE) Network transition

Wondering about the Network transition? Learn more.
 

 

 

→ DIY Nano Book 

The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network's full collection of do-it-yourself science activities that investigate the nanoscale - the scale of atoms and molecules! These 'Do It Yourself' Nano activities and experiments allow families to experience and learn about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology at home or on the go!

 

→ NanoDays: A NISE Network Guide to Creating Activity Kits, Building Communities, and Inspiring Learning

The guide describes the planning and development of NanoDays resources by a cross-organizational team, fabrication and distribution of the physical kits, implementation by hundreds of partners across the country through annual NanoDays events, and the impact of the initiative on public audiences.

 

→ Program Development: A NISE Network Guide to Creating Effective Learning Experiences for Public Audiences 

This guide offers a comprehensive overview of NISE Network programming, including development by a multi-organization team, implementation by hundreds of partners nationwide, and impact on public audiences. It offers a practical introduction to the approaches, methods, and tools the Network uses to ensure our programs provide effective learning opportunities.

 

→ Final gathering of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS) 

 

In 2005, the National Science Foundation simultaneously announced funding both for NISE Net and the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU). Up to that point, the two proposed projects weren’t aware of each other, but after a few email exchanges and phone calls, Principal Investigators Larry Bell (NISE Net) and David Guston (CNS-ASU) initiated what would turn into many years of productive work together. CNS-ASU ideas have been incorporated into many NISE Net educational products, and so are integral to the public engagement work of many NISE Net partners.

 

 

Continue to the full Partner Highlight to learn about the impacts this collaboration has had on CNS-ASU and the NISE Network.
 

Nanoparticles in baby formula: should parents be worried?

A team of scientists from Arizona State University recently analyzed six commonly available off-the-shelf baby formulas (liquid and powder) and found nanometer-scale particles made up of hydroxyapatite in three of the formulas. Hydroxyapatite is a calcium-rich mineral and is naturally made in our bodies as an essential part of bones and teeth, however, under super high magnification these nanoparticles resemble sharp needle-like structures that may behave and react differently in the body at the nanoscale. In non-nano form, hydroxyapatite is classified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as "Generally Regarded as Safe," however the agency has raised concerns that nanoscale versions of food ingredients may not be as safe as their larger counterparts, or at least requires reevaluation before being added to food products. 

 

→ Synthetic Biology News

Biological programming

A new tool makes programming living cells like writing computer software. Although scientists have been programming biological circuits for several years now, researchers from MIT have recently developed a tool that makes it possible to design DNA circuits for living cells. The new tool, called "Cello," enables users to automate the design of cellular circuits by simply inputting a design and the program will convert it into a DNA sequence that executes a specific function, like producing a drug. 

 

→ Space and Earth News

NASA's Kepler Mission Announces Largest Collection of Planets Ever Discovered

Based on analysis performed on the Kepler space telescope's July 2015 planet catalog, which identified over 4,000 potential planets, 1,284 of the candidates were verified as new planets, which is is the single largest finding of planets to date. Before the Kepler space telescope launched in 2009, scientists didn't know whether exoplanets were rare or common in the galaxy but with Kepler, scientists now know there could be more planets than stars. Kepler is helping to provide a deeper understanding of the number of stars that harbor potentially habitable, Earth-size planets, a number that's needed to design future missions to search for habitable environments and living worlds. 

 

SpaceX makes fourth successful rocket landing

Launched in 2002, SpaceX was founded to revolutionize launch and space technology by making rocket components reusable, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft, including the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX has managed to successfully launch rockets into geostationary transfer orbit, further than the low-Earth orbit of the International Space Station, and land the rockets both on land and on ocean platforms.

 

World Oceans Day (June 8)

• worldoceansday.org 
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program 
• The Water Race: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surfaces hands-on activity
• Why are Seashells so Strong? hands-on activity
• What’s Nano About Water?  video
• DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video 
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation hands-on activity

Sun and Sand

• Nano Ice Cream program 
• Invisible Sunblock hands-on activity 
• Magic Sand / Nanosurfaces hands-on activity
• Exploring Products - Sunblock hands-on activity
• Ready, Set, Self-Assemble is a fun, outdoor group program
• Why are Seashells so Strong? hands-on activity

Summer Camp

• Nanotechnology Summer Camp (Ages 8 - 10) framework
• High School Nanotechnology Summer Camp framework

For a list of of nano activities for use throughout the year, see NISE Net's list of seasonal activities.