NISE Network Blog

Partner Highlight: NISE Network Partners Continue Sustainability Efforts through Challenging Times

May 5, 2020

Nich Weller, Arizona State University

In January 2020, thirty-four museum professionals from across the NISE Network came to Arizona State University as part of the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability in Science and Technology Museums Fellowship. Following their time in Tempe, fellows returned to their organizations with new tools, resources, and relationships cultivated from the workshop to conduct their projects, ranging from updating exhibits to planning museum renovations to providing professional development at their organization about sustainability.

Check out the NSF STEM for All Video Showcase and watch (and vote for) the NISE Network's Let's Do Chemistry video

May 4, 2020

Kayla Berry, Museum of Science

Take part in the free, interactive STEM for All Video Showcase, May 5-12. This online showcase gives you the opportunity to learn about the latest research efforts to transform STEM education, communicate directly with researchers and practitioners, and vote for your favorite videos. Be sure to take a look at this short 3-minute Let's Do Chemistry! New Attitudes about Learning Chemistry video!

Partner Highlight: NISE Network Partners Excel During COVID-19 Shutdown

May 2, 2020

Kayla Berry, Museum of Science

These past couple of months, NISE Network partners have continued to find creative ways to remotely engage their communities in fun science learning experiences and provide outreach throughout the coronavirus COVID-19 shutdown.

Partner Highlight: Star Night's Annual Event Moves Indoors at White Mountain Nature Center in Pinetop, Arizona

May 2, 2020

Kalman Mannis, Arizona Science Center

Star Night is an annual event at the White Mountain Nature Center in the alpine town of Pinetop, AZ, the region’s crowning informal learning site. The annual early Spring Astronomy Night was planned for mid-March 2020, the amateur astronomers were geared up for a star party, NISE Net's Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit and Arizona State University’s StarLab were on-hand, we were a go! Then a week prior to the event the Covid crisis erupted and a late Spring storm was in the forecast...we needed to pivot!

Children's Museum of Houston photo of kids jumping

Partner Highlight: Learn How Network Partners are Remaining Resilient and Adapting During Current Times – COVID-19

March 26, 2020

Kayla Berry, Museum of Science

The NISE Network continues to be amazed at the way partners are rapidly adjusting to changing times, learning how to adapt in-person programs, demonstrations and activities into virtual and at-home learning experiences. This is no small feat and we want to highlight Network partners’ work that we’ve seen shared online over the last couple of weeks and sing your praise! This is a great opportunity to learn from each other, share resources, and support one another as best as we can.

wikihow creative commons Set-Up-an-Ergonomically-Correct-Workstation

Tips for working from home

March 20, 2020

Catherine McCarthy, Science Museum of Minnesota

As many of us engage in social distancing to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, we know many of our partner staff are being asked to work from home and to engage the public online. For some, this may be your first time working from home, which can be difficult enough without the added complications of the current situation.

Partner Highlight: When the Stars Don’t Align for Your Star Party at the Science Museum of Minnesota

March 3, 2020

Christina Leavell, Science Museum of Minnesota

On January 15, 2020 the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) held a Star Watch Party with special guest meteorologist and astronomy educator Mike Lynch. This was not a public event, but a staff and volunteer social hosted by The Networking...

Check Your Box & Missing Items - 2020 Explore Science: Earth and Space Toolkit Part A

February 20, 2020

Ali Jackson, Sciencenter

Check Your Box & Missing Items 2020 Explore Science: Earth and Space Toolkit Part A It has come to our attention that there are a couple of missing items from this year’s toolkit. We are mailing out replacement materials to...

Temperature Mapping hands-on activity picture

Partner Highlight: Grand Re-opening Family Event Blasts Off at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado

February 11, 2020

Becca Manis, Director of Curriculum, Challenger Learning Center of Colorado

After 17 years, the dream to expand the Challenger Learning Center of Colorado to include room for public events and on-site summer camps was finally realized through a revitalized partnership. This past fall, the Center hosted its Grand Re-Opening family open-house event, the first major public event to take place in our newly expanded facility, for almost 900 guests. Staff used activities from the NISE Net's Explore Space toolkits and as well as from fellow Challenger partners.

Hands-on learning activity about daytime and nighttime

Partner Highlight: Bringing Multi-touch Science Learning into the Classroom Through Pre-school Teacher Professional Development

January 31, 2020

Rori Leath, The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology

Throughout the fall and winter, The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology worked with twenty preschool teachers and their students to explore the concepts of Day and Night. The goal with this preschool program is for students to...