Newsletter: August 2019

NETWORK NEWS

Highlighting NISE Network partner events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing

Photos shared by: [Left] Space Foundation, [Right] Science Museum of Minnesota

NISE Network partners all across the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing throughout July. Thank you partners for all that you do to engage your community in Earth and space science! Here are just a few samples of partner events that were shared online through social networking sites with the NISE Network

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join the NISE Network at the upcoming Association for Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual Conference 

We encourage partners, and those interested in learning more about the Network, to stop by the NISE Network booth to talk with team members and join us for the following activities (no RSVPs required) at ASTC (see more details and event locations):

  • NISE Network Networking Happy Hour - Friday, 9/21; 6-7pm, location TBD
  • NISE Network Partner Breakfast - Monday, 9/23; 7:30-9am (Learn about current and upcoming project opportunities)
  • Pre-conference Workshops
    • Let's Do Chemistry: Designing and facilitating chemistry activities to increase interest, relevance, and self-efficacy (9/20; 9am-5pm)
    • Playing with the future: Creating exhibits and programs that immerse visitors in futures thinking (9/21; 1:30-5:30pm)
  • Concurrent Sessions - see the full list and details of NISE Net-related conference sessions

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Start planning now for National Chemistry Week 2019

During 2019’s International Year of the Periodic Table, National Chemistry Week (NCW) will be celebrated October 20-26, 2019 with the theme, "Marvelous Metals." The NCW 2019 online resources are now available online, including educational resources and promotional materials. A great first step in planning a NCW event is to reach out to your local NCW Coordinator for more information; Explore NISE Net's NCW web page for additional resources and activity ideas

ONLINE WORKSHOPS

The NISE Network hosts free online workshops as professional development opportunities for our partners. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events. 

 

 

Learn More About the 2020 Explore Science: Earth & Space Toolkit

Tuesday, Sept 10, 2019
2-3pm Eastern / 11am-12pm Pacific
Join the NISE Network to learn more about the Earth & Space project, how your organization can get involved and receive the new, free 2020 physical toolkit. Learn more


Making Chemistry Matter to Your Public Audiences - Using Hands-on Activities to Stimulate Interest, Relevance, and Self-efficacy

Tuesday, Sept 17, 2019
2-3pm Eastern / 11am-12pm Pacific
Hear from project team members as they discuss Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry project findings and a framework for designing and facilitating hands-on informal chemistry activities with public audiences, and how they might be applied to other STEM topics. Learn more


Empowering Girls in Science Through Growth Mindset and the New Girl Scout Space Science Badges

Tuesday, Oct 8, 2019
2-3pm Eastern / 11am-12pm Pacific
Join us for an online workshop focused on Growth Mindset in girls and the new 2019 Space Science badges for Girl Scouts. Presenters will explore ways to engage and encourage girls in STEM, discuss the newly released badges, the Girl Scouts' STEM strategy, and ways science museums can successfully engage girls in Earth and space science. Learn more

PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS

Making the Most of the Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Kit at Eastern Oregon University

By Dr. Anna Cavinato, Eastern Oregon University 

Christmas arrived early last September for the Eastern Oregon University (EOU) Chemistry Club, a Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society, when their Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit arrived! Amazed by all the kit provided, they soon started thinking about the ways to integrate the activities into the many outreach activities they do throughout the year. Located in northeastern Oregon, in a largely rural area where schools have limited resources, the EOU Chemistry Club brings hands-on chemistry activities to students through a variety of outreach events. Read the full partner highlight to see how the Student Chapter is engaging youth in chemistry


Adventures in Exploring Earth and Space at tag! Children's Museum in St. Augustine, Florida

By tag! Children's Museum of St. Augustine

The tag! Children's Museum in St. Augustine, Florida discovered a world of possibilities with NISE Network's hands-on Earth and space toolkit and the opportunities its paved in bringing unique STEAM-based learning experiences to their community. Through the many events hosted this year, tag! has developed new partnerships and started meaningful conversations among visitors around topics that affect their own coastal community such as the impact of rising sea levels and land cover. Through these conversations and events, activities have helped participants see not just the problems, but also potential solutions. Read tag!'s full partner highlight about their recent Earth and space events

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES

New! Chat online with other NISE Network partners using the Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits online Ryver forum

Have you received and Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkit or are you using the digital version of the toolkit? If so, the NISE Network is partnering with the Museum Alliance to moderate a new Ryver forum space to allow our Earth and Space partners to connect, communicate, and collaborate with each other. Read more about the Ryver forum and how you can get connected to Earth and Space discussions


See a dust storm? Submit your photos with the GLOBE Observer app

Do you live in an area that has dust storms? Dust storms are dangerous and difficult to forecast. You can help by reporting these storms using the GLOBE Observer app allowing scientists to check if their models are accurate in predicting the dust storms. Learn how to get involved 

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 http://www.nisenet.org/seasons/.


August

NASA's Night Sky Network - Astronomical events for August

8/19: National Aviation Day
NASA suggestions for celebrating National Aviation Day

8/20 National Mosquito Day

 

October

10/20-10/26: National Chemistry Week, themed "Marvelous Metals"

2019 Year-long events

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS

Earth and Space News

New NASA resource: Space Station Explorers Kit
This free kit contains six hands-on activities for students in grades 3-8, including a guide aligned with national standards for STEM for use in both classrooms and informal learning environments such as afterschool programs, camps, and museums. 

No climate event in 2,000 years compares to what's happening now
Within the last 2,000 years, volcanic eruptions have largely contributed to regional climate change. However, nothing resembling modern-day global warming has happened until the Industrial Revolution where now temperatures are increasing everywhere, at the same time. Federal scientists announced that June 2018 was the Earth's hottest June ever recorded with records dating back to 1880.


Chemistry News

NASA Rover on Mars detects gas that hints at possibility of life
NASA's Curiosity rover recently detected methane in the Martian air, which on Earth is usually produced by living things, however geology can also generate methane. It's also possible that the methane is ancient, trapped in the subsurface of Mars for millions of years but is escaping similarly to how methane can be held under the seafloor or in permafrost on Earth. Three new rovers are heading to Mars in 2020 to collect more data


Synthetic Biology News

Mosquitoes have been almost completely wiped out on two Chinese islands
Researchers in China are producing millions of modified mosquitoes by infecting the eggs with a bacteria that prevents them from transmitting harmful viruses (eg, Zika, Dengue fever, malaria). It also makes males sterile so when they mate with females the eggs don't hatch.  

CRISPR gene editing is being tested in human patients, and the results could revolutionize health care
In a first test in the US, scientists are using CRISPR to directly fix a mutation in the cells of a living body, within the eye, in the hope to restore vision in patients born with congenital vision disease.

NATIONAL CONFERENCES

American Chemical Society (ACS) 2019 Fall National Meeting & Expo

August 25-29, 2019
San Diego, California
Registration open


Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) 2019 Annual Conference

September 21-24, 2019
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registration open


Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLPA) Annual Conference

October 23-26 2019
Toledo, Ohio
Learn more


Association of Children's Museums (ACM) InterActivity 2020

May 5-8, 2020
St. Louis, Missouri
Learn more