Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit - How to Apply

Explore Science Earth & Space logo

The National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net) is pleased to offer 350 free Explore Science: Earth & Space 2020 toolkits to new and existing eligible partners in the United States. In collaboration with NASA, the NISE Network has assembled a new set of engaging, hands-on Earth and space science experiences with connections to science, technology, and society.

The 2020 Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit will shipped in two parts:

  • Part A shipped in January 2020 and included a set of hands-on activities.
  • Part B shipped in December 2020 and included a hands-on collaborative Moon Adventure Game as well as science activities about the Moon  

There was one application for the 2020 toolkit - all successful applicants received both Part A and Part B of the toolkit.  Each part of the toolkit will require a report, please see the requirements section of the overview for further details.

How to Apply for a 2020 Physical Toolkit

Reports

NISE Network partners who received a physical  Explore Science: Earth and Space 2020 toolkit are required to submit an online report due February 15, 2021.

Learn more about how to submit online reports

 

​Online workshops

The NISE Network hosts a series of one-hour online workshops featuring a variety of topics. All online workshops are recorded and archived online. To see a list of future workshops, sign up as a participant, or view recordings of past workshops, visit http://nisenet.org/event-type/online-workshop 

Online workshop about the 2020 toolkit:

Toolkit Contents & Audiences

Three hundred and fifty (350) free Explore Science: Earth & Space physical 2020 toolkits will be awarded to successful applicants from eligible organizations.

  • Activities are designed for use in children’s museums, science centers, science museums, public planetariums and observatories, and NASA visitor centers in the United States.

  • Activities are designed for family audiences with a range of experiences appropriate for visitors ages 4 through adult

    • One activity is designed specifically for early childhood audiences (ages 0 - 4) 

    • Some activities are more appropriate for slightly older audiences (ages 8 - adult)

  • Explore Science: Earth & Space 2020 toolkits will include:

    • Hands-on activities to engage the public in Earth and space sciences including: heliophysics, Earth science, planetary science, astrophysics, and their connections to society

    • Professional development materials including facilitation & content training videos

    • Event planning guides 

    • Marketing and promotional materials

In addition to the physical toolkits, all digital materials will be available online for free download. The NISE Network will also be hosting a series of one-hour online workshops featuring a variety of topics; all online workshops will be recorded and archived.

Timeline for 2020 Physical Toolkit

  • September 1, 2019: Online application opens to apply for a free physical toolkit
  • November 1, 2019: Deadline to submit application
  • December 2019: Notification of award decisions
  • January 2020: Part A of physical toolkit shipped to successful applicants
  • March - May 2020:   Successful applicants host required public event(s) with Part A
  • August 2020:  Part B of physical toolkit shipped to successful applicants
  • September 2020 - January 2021: Successful applicants engage local audiences with Part B
  • February 15, 2021:  Online reports due - please see https://www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit-more for details

Eligibility

The physical toolkit is designed for informal science education public events and outreach. To be eligible to receive a physical toolkit, organizations must be:

  • Located in the United States (including US territories)
  • Public informal science outreach and education institutions such as: 
    • science museums and science centers,
    • children’s museums,
    • natural history museums, 
    • public planetariums and observatories, and
    • NASA visitor centers.

Please note that K-12 schools, afterschool programs, libraries, parks, and astronomy clubs are not eligible to receive physical toolkits. Consider downloading a digital toolkit if your organization does not meet eligibility criteria. Digital toolkits will be available for download after the physical toolkits ship.

Recipients of Explore Science: Earth & Space physical toolkits: 

The following NISE Network partner organizations were awarded Explore Science: Earth & Space physical toolkits: 

Digital Toolkit

Digital versions of toolkits are available as a free download:

About the Project

Learn more abut the project: ​http://www.nisenet.org/space

Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award numbers NNX16AC67A and 80NSSC18M0061. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).