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Newsletter: June 2022

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JUNE 2022  


NETWORK NEWS

Explore Science Earth and Space logo in English and Spanish bilingual

Making Earth & Space Science More Relevant and Inclusive 

This new self-paced course is based on resources developed for the NISE Network’s Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community which took place in 2021-2022. These resources are designed to help museum and science center educators make Earth & Space science relevant and inclusive for their local communities. The collection of resources features written materials, slides, and videos for you to explore at your own pace.
Learn more

Association of Childrens Museums 2022 NISE Network booth people having conversation

Association of Children’s Museums InterActivity Conference 

It was wonderful to see so many NISE Network partners in person at the ACM conference this month. We have our concurrent session slides from NISE Network related sessions and our booth handouts posted a nisenet.org/ACM2022

 


UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming Online Workshop logo wide landscape format

Online Workshops
The NISE Network hosts free online workshops as professional development opportunities for our partners to share with and learn from each other. Online workshops take place on select Tuesdays at 2pm-3pm Eastern. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events

• June 14, 2022
Reconnect and Re-engage with the NISE Network 2022 - An Overview of Projects and Time to Connect
Join us for this opportunity to reconnect and re-engage with your NISE Network friends and colleagues. We will have a brief overview of the Network for new staff, an update on projects, and then the majority of the workshop will be spent in breakout groups. As always, we want to hear from you! You’ll have time to chat with others in the network and catch up on where colleagues find themselves and their programming in the aftermath of another year of not-so-normal programming.

Learn more and register

• July 19, 2022
T
ools for Engaging Communities and Incorporating Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Practices
In this online workshop, we will explore the Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) tools and resources that the NISE Network and other organizations have to offer, alongside stories of this work from members of the Making Earth & Space Relevant and Inclusive Professional Learning Community.
Learn more and register


PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS

COSI-NASA Space Learning Lunchbox Kit Contents

Feeding Hungry Lives and Hungry Minds Worldwide

The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is partnering up with other community-based and human services organizations to feed hungry lives and hungry minds. The COSI Connects: Learning Lunchbox initiative is an innovative program led by COSI and an incredible network of meal providers, libraries, museums, and cultural institutions to deliver hundreds of thousands of free, hands-on science kits, called Learning Lunchbox kits, to support efforts to help address learning loss and disparities in learning that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic–specifically with inner city and rural communities.
Learn how your institution could become a Learning Lunchbox distribution partner in your local community.

Read more

 

Tactile Layers of the Atmosphere Exhibit Piece

Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, GA Develops New Tactile Exhibit "Layers of the Atmosphere"

With guidance from the NISE Network’s Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community, the Museum of Arts and Sciences partnered with teachers from the Georgia Academy for the Blind to achieve a shared goal of increasing opportunities for greater awareness, understanding, and access for the visually impaired. 
Read more

 

lewisburg_nano_exhibition_-_tippy_table.jpg

The Nano Mini-Exhibition arrives at the Lewisburg Children’s Museum in Pennsylvania

After more than ten years, the Nano mini-exhibition is still going strong and can now be seen by visitors at the Lewisburg Children's Museum. Check out their photos, walk-through video, and learn how your institution can get on the waiting list for Nano.
Read more

 

Sun, Earth, Universe Exhibition at NASA Wallops Visitor Center

The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center Gives a Warm Welcome to the Sun, Earth, Universe Exhibition

Partners at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center kicked-off Memorial Day weekend with a new exhibition - the NISE Network’s Sun, Earth, Universe exhibit! Check out the awesome video staff created that captures the exhibit’s arrival and installation. Also learn how your institution can be added to the waiting list for Sun, Earth, Universe
Read more

 


FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope First Images 
First full-color images and spectroscopic data are anticipated to be released July 12, 2022. 

Looking for an easy way to discover resources on the nisenet.org website?
Check out our “Browse by Themes and Topics,” featuring curated collections of hands-on activities and resources by themes and STEM topics: nisenet.org/browse-topic

Featured collections

Recorded NISE Network online workshops
View the recordings and resources from recent NISE Net online workshops:

  • Online Workshop: Earth and Space Resource Roundup - an Overview of All the NISE Network has to Offer (recorded 5/3/2022) View the recording

COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Talking with Children about Violence and Tragedies
We could all use some help having conversations with children about tragic events in the news. Navigating these conversations isn't easy, and this compilation of resources can be helpful with both children and adults.
Learn more 

IF/THEN® Gender Equity Grant Funding
ASTC grant funding of up to $4,000 is available to support projects that use materials from our IF/THEN® Project Library. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, 2022, or until all available funds are awarded. Learn more 

NASA Artemis I mission patch logo including rocket ship

NASA Artemis I Resources
Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test taking place in 2022 that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration. Learn how you can participate: 

COVID-19 Coronavirus and Vaccine Resources 
NISE Network continues to compile resources as the situation continues to evolve:

  • We Can Do This logo about COVID-19 vaccines for the US
    COVID-19 museum resources
  • Vaccine museum resources
  • Through a federal partnership Association of Children's Museums is supporting programs, events, and exhibits in children’s museums to build broader vaccine confidence. ACM has created a four-panel exhibit sharing critical information about vaccines with parents and caregivers, available for free to museums to download and print. Learn more

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: nisenet.org/seasons

JUNE

JULY


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NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES​​​

  • Visitor Studies Association Conference, July 12-14, 2022, Omaha

    Learn more

  • ASTC Conference, September 12-15, 2022, Pittsburgh 

    Learn more

  • CAISE InformalScience.org conference calendar

    Learn more

  • National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences

    Learn more


SCIENCE IN THE NEWS


SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY NEWS
Billions of genetically modified male mosquitoes are being released in Florida in an effort to combat diseases. The release of the modified mosquitoes in Florida was launched following State approval in May 2022, after the federal EPA approved releases in California and Florida approved the release in May 2022. The mosquitoes are being distributed using Oxitec’s just-add-water mosquito boxes.
Read more and more 

NISE Network resources:

• Should We Engineer the Mosquito? Forum

• Health and Medicine resources

• Building with Biology kit


CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
A new study about wildfires and air quality in California advises that resource and fire managers working in forests shift their emphasis from reducing burned area to reducing fire severity and fire damage to people and property, and restoring key ecosystem functions after fire.
Read more

NISE Network resources: 

• Climate change resources


SPACE NEWS
Our Milky Way galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center, but we’ve never actually seen it until now. The NSF-funded Event Horizon Telescope recently released the first image of our galactic black hole, Sagittarius A* (pronounced “Sagittarius A-star” and abbreviated Sgr A*). 
Read more

NISE Network resources: 

• Astronomy resources​​​​​​​


EARTH SCIENCE NEWS
A new study finds ice shards in Antarctic clouds let more solar energy reach Earth's surface. Clouds come in many shapes, sizes and types, which control their effects on climate. New research shows that the splintering of frozen liquid droplets to form ice shards inside Southern Ocean clouds dramatically affects the clouds' ability to reflect sunlight back to space.
Read more

NASA resources: 

• Globe Observer Clouds

NISE Network resources: 

• Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds activity

• Climate change resources

• Water resources