NISE Network Year in Review 2024

Catherine McCarthy, Arizona State University
NISE Network logo - vertical color reverse

When reflecting on this past year, we are filled with gratitude to be able to collaborate with all of you! This past year we continued to increase our capacity as professionals and organizations to engage the public in STEM topics throughout the United States. Our strength as a Network comes from our collaboration as dedicated professionals, and our impact comes from the work we all do to engage our local communities.

 

2024 written by sparklers

Thank you to everyone who participates in our community!

 

Here are some of our favorite Network moments of 2024.

 

 

Partners Engaging the Public in 2024

So many things happened this past year - crowds were wowed by the total solar eclipse, many people experienced auroras in the night sky for the first time, and our partners engaged their local communities on many topics. Here are just a few examples of partners engaging local communities throughout the United States:

Two staff stand at The Bell Museum entrance and reenact the eclipse, one dressed as the Moon jumps in front to of the other dressed as the Sun to block it out.
When clouds blocked the view in Minnesota, staff at the Bell Museum were ready to playfully demonstrate what happens during a solar eclipse. Photo Credit: Bell Museum

 

Allen Institute BrainFest at Pacific Science Center 2024 with an adult showing children a brain - credit Allen Institute
A young learner gets an up close look at the brain during Brain Fest 2024 at Pacific Science Center. Photo Credit: Erik Dinnel / Allen Institute 
  • World Quantum Day events were held in April 2024 including an event at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT.
    Learn more

 

  • Brain Awareness Week events took place at locations in March including the event with Pacific Science Center & the Allen Institute in Seattle, WA using the Changing Brains activities
    Learn more

 

An adult stands between two young individuals at a table with various supplies for a hands-on activity.
Día de los Muertos event in Mesa, Arizona
Online workshop recordings logo square

Professional Learning Online workshops

Professional learning online workshops were held throughout the year on a variety of topics. Sincere thanks to all those who presented and attended to share their valuable knowledge and experiences with all of us.
 

ASTC 2024 Chicago NISE Network booth with conference attendees

Conference presentations 

New Products in 2024

Get to know the NISE Network overview video
Play the video 
  • Get to know the NISE Network overview video
    This 4-minute video provides a brief overview to the NISE Network’s national and local impact, innovative learning experiences, professional development, commitment to inclusion, and how to get involved.
    Learn more
     
In this splash screen for the game, two animated kids sit in a forest looking at a floating hologram

  • Whispers in the Wind app
    In this digital game set in near-future Puerto Rico, players learn about radio and wireless technology as they help siblings Gabby and Raúl restore their town's communication systems after a hurricane. The app is available in both English and Spanish for iPhones/iPads and Android devices. 
    Learn more
     

What is Learning conversation starter photo card collage
  • What is Learning Conversation Starter
    Cards to spark conversations about what learning looks like. These images provide an opportunity for a group to reflect on and share what they feel best represents learning. This activity can help professionals recognize that learning takes many forms and occurs in different settings across a person’s lifetime.
    https://www.nisenet.org/learningcards

 

STEM Learning Ecosystems postcard front with an illustration of a generalized place-based ecosystem

 

 

What are STEM Learning Ecosystem video Introductory title slide
  • STEM Learning Ecosystems video series
    This series of professional learning videos is designed to introduce educators to STEM Learning Ecosystems. Key aspects of place-based STEM Learning ecosystems include developing partnerships among local institutions, providing pathways for learners, and creating relevant experiences for local learners responding to cultural, societal, and geographic contexts. 
    https://www.nisenet.org/stem-learning-ecosystems-videos

 

A whole pineapple with one wedge sliced to see the interior is pink instead of yellow.

  • Building with Biology "Bio Bistro" activity
    Whether or not you are familiar with or received our past Building with Biology kit, you can easily download, print, and start using new resources for the "Bio Bistro" activity. A set of updated cards engages public audiences in conversations about the field of synthetic biology, the ways this emerging technology is interconnected with society, and ultimately, “Would you eat that?” 
    Learn more

 

  • Browse by Theme and Topics resource collections 
    We have continued to expand our collections so it is easier to integrate activities on the nisenet.org website into existing programs, themes, and seasonal activities.
    https://www.nisenet.org/browse-topic

Projects that Wrapped Up in 2024

cards showing human attributes and robot jobs
  • Changing Brains Kit
    A downloadable collection of public engagement and professional development resources about the brain, neuroscience, and neuroethics. Also included are resources for annual events including Brain Awareness Week, World Brain Day, Mental Wellness Month, and more public engagement events.

 

 

Voyage through the Solar System Breath of Fresh Air learners using water dropper

 

  • Building Capacity For Co-Created Public Engagement with Science (CC-PES)
    As part of the NSF-funded Building Capacity For Co-Created Public Engagement with Science project led by the Museum of Science, Boston, a group of partners from around the country used a co-creation model to work with civic and community partners to create and host public engagement with science activities.

Ongoing Projects

Title image from video, left reads Engaging Hispanic Communities with a young individual in traditional ballet folklorico dress.
Play the video
  • Co-creating with Communities Initiative 
    Through two complementary NASA-funded projects, the NISE Network will increase the capacity of informal educators across the United States to work with local communities to co-create opportunities to learn about NASA science in ways that are locally relevant and inclusive of everyone. Working with subject matter experts, community groups, and educational organizations, teams in seven locations across the United states are creating culturally sustaining learning experiences for Hispanic and other groups.
    Development continues on these projects; we will be sharing more professional development resources in 2025 and 2026.
     
STEM Learning Ecosystems postcard front with an illustration of a generalized place-based ecosystem
  • STEM Learning Ecosystems Project
    STEM learning ecosystems unite people, groups, and resources to create science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) engagement and education experiences for all people throughout their lifetimes. 
    Development continues on this project; we will be sharing more professional development resources in 2025.
     
Making Waves WIFI detector activity at the Celebremos las ciencias!Let's Celebrate Science at the Museum of Life and Science Durham This event is part of the NC Science Festival credit Guillermo Delgado for NISE Network
  • Making Waves with Radio Kit
    A downloadable kit of hands-on activities, mobile apps, and camp curriculum to support informal educators engaging public audiences on the science, technologies, and societal implications behind radio wave communications.

Publications

Externally published journal articles and professional publications include:

 

  • Bell, J. & Ostman, R. (In press). Informal STEM learning: Introduction and opportunities for Broader Impacts partnerships. In L. A. Van Egeren & S. Renoe, The Handbook of Broader Impacts. Vol. II: Practices and approaches for Broader Impacts. Michigan State University Press.
    NISE Network overall
     
  • Rommelfanger, K. S., Porcello, D., Salles, A., & Tournas, L. N. (2024). Neuroethics hackathons bridge theory to practice. Neuron, 112(24), 3994-3998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2024.11.013
    Changing Brains
     
  • Salles A., Mahieu, V., Rommelfanger, K., Porcello, D., Swieboda, P., Tournas, L. (2024) Towards Inclusive EU Governance of Neurotechnologies. Institute of Neuroethics and International Center for Future Generations, October 2024, 55p.
    https://icfg.eu/towards-inclusive-eu-governance-of-neurotechnologies/
    Changing Brains
     
  • McCarthy, C., Krakowski, A., Lindsey, R., & Porcello, D. (2024). Hi AI! Playful Early Encounters with Artificial Intelligence. Hand to Hand, 37(1), 12-18, Association of Children’s Museums.
    https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/hi-ai-playful-early-encounters-artificial-intelligence-publication
    Changing Brains, AI
     
  • Ostman, R. (2024) STEM Learning Ecosystems, Climate Action Symposium: Building Resilient Communities – STAR Library Network. Published by STAR Library Network, August 16, 2024.
    https://spacescience.org/edu/reports.php#BRC
    STEM Learning Ecosystems
     
  • Carfora, N., Bailey, L., Alford, K., Myllykoski, M., Ostman, R., & Martin, P. (2024). Plausible immersive futures with Seven Siblings in Finland, southern Australia, and Arizona. In K. Alford (Ed.), Cultivating futures thinking in museums: New roles, new possibilities. Routledge. 
    https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003474975-29
    Space and Earth Informal STEM Education
     
  • Ostman, R., Anderson, A., Kollmann, E. K., & Martin, P. (2024). Mission Future: An experiential future. Exhibition 43(1), pp. 32–44.
    https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/mission-future-exhibition-journal-article
    Space and Earth Informal STEM Education
     
  • McCarthy, C., Leavell, C., Jackson, A., & Porcello, D. (2024). Preparing Museum and Science Center Educators to Engage the Public across the United States for the 2017, 2023, and 2024 Solar Eclipses. Bulletin of the AAS, 56(3).
    https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.84ce9019
    Space and Earth Informal STEM Education, Voyage through the Solar System


Externally published journal articles and professional publications
https://www.nisenet.org/publications-list-citations

Evaluation Findings

Our evaluation teams have been working to understand and summarize the public and professional impacts of projects; significant work completed this year includes:

  • Voyage through the Solar System Project Summative Evaluation and Partner Implementation Report (2024)
    Summative evaluation and Partner Implementation Report of the Voyage through the Solar System project.
  • Space Earth and Informal Science Education Project Summative Evaluation (2021 & 2024)
    Summative evaluation reports and executive summary for the Space Earth and Informal Science Education (SEISE) project including: professional impacts, Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition public reach and impacts, the Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkits public reach and impacts, the Mission Future exhibition,  and the Earth & Space project-based professional learning community.
  • Co-Created Public Engagement with Science (CC-PES) Project Reports (2024)
    The Co-Created Public Engagement with Science Project (CC-PES) led by the Museum of Science sought to build capacity among museums and other informal science education institutions to develop and implement co-created public engagement with science activities. The heart of the CC-PES model is involving community and civic representatives as co-creators of dialog programs that address important socio-scientific questions, and then finding a way to turn community input into action.
Build a Human Habitat on Mars - group of children building at exhibit
Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition Birdseye view of visitors interacting with exhibits

Exhibitions on Display

These existing NISE Network exhibitions continue to be on display at partner sites across the Nation:

 

 

Birdseye view of Nano exhibition with visitors.

 

  • Mission Future: Arizona 2024 exhibition opened at the Arizona Science Center
     

 

If you are looking for a copy of either exhibition or looking to find a new home for your own copy, please contact Christina Leavell, our Community Manager. We can add those interested to our exhibit waiting lists, as well as assist current hosts with connections to interested partners.
https://www.nisenet.org/contact

Acknowledgements

The NISE Network's projects are generously supported by our funders.

Without their vital support these efforts would not be possible.
We sincerely thank our funders for their generous support.