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Nano Bite: March 2010

Welcome to the March Nano Bite, the monthly e-newsletter for the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net).
Happy NanoDays!
  Training NanoDays volunteers
Karine Thate and Alex Fiorentino, Education Associates at the Museum of Science, graciously shared with me a training they run to help our local university NanoDays volunteers get more comfortable doing hands-on demos with public audiences.  Read the outline of the training and download the handouts here.  And email me if you have a training that you'd be willing to share. 
 
Make sure you're stocked up
 Want to order more ferrofluid?  Learn how to make liquid crystal mixtureWe just posted vendor information for the materials in the NanoDays kits. (You can also find the sources for some supplies listed right in the Materials section of each activity)
What else?
Making Stuff Grant Opportunity
The Materials Research Society and WGBH will be premiering Making Stuff, a four-part PBS series about materials science, in fall 2010 and are looking for outreach partners to organize and host events, demos, workshops, and science cafes in connection with the premiere.  They'll provide outreach partners with a stipend as well as a resource toolkit.  One of the four episodes is focused on nanotechnology, and nano will be a common thread throughout the episodes. You can find lots more information, as well as the application form, here.  Applications are due April 1st. 
 
   Did you know that the NISE Net is on Twitter?
 We are
 
Why does nano matter?
In his latest Real World Nano post, Arizona State University's Clark Miller explores surface area as a possible answer to the question of why nano matters and mentions two different applications in which greater surface area makes a difference.
 
Calling all "next generation" science and tech writers!
Our partners at ASU asked us to pass along this writing and publishing fellowship opportunity to all of you.  They're now accepting applications for To Think-To Write-To Publish, an intensive two-day workshop followed by a three-day conference in Arizona for early career writers of any genre with an interest in science and technology.  The deadline is March 15th, click here to download the flier.
 
Nano in children's museums workshop
Don't forget about the NISE Net pre-conference workshop on nano in children's museums at the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) Interactivity annual meeting.  The workshop is Wednesday, May 5th, and you can register for it and the meeting here.
 
Thanks to everyone planning NanoDays 2010 events and good luck! 
Here's a sample of some of our partners hosting NanoDays: 
 
Instead of a Haiku
 
NanoTex, the company that provided the fabric for our nano pants activity, illustrates the benefits of their fabric when it comes to brunch cocktails on-the-go.
Questions? Haikus? Contributions to the newsletter? Contact Vrylena Olney at [email protected]