NETWORK NEWS
Check out the NSF STEM for All Video Showcase and watch (and vote for) the NISE Network's Let's Do Chemistry video
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. Make sure you take a look at the NISE Network's short 3-minute Let's Do Chemistry! New Attitudes about Learning Chemistry video and consider voting for it in the "Public Choice" category; read more.
NISE Network partners continue sustainability efforts through challenging times
In January, thirty-four museum professionals from across the Network traveled to Arizona State University as part of Cohort B in the Sustainability in Science and Technology Museums Fellowship. Following their workshop, fellows returned to their organizations with new tools, resources, and relationships cultivated from the workshop to put into action. View some highlights of fellows' projects from Cohort B
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
The NISE Network hosts free online workshops as professional development opportunities for our partners to share with and learn from each other. Online workshops take place on Tuesdays at 2-3pm Eastern / 11am-12pm Pacific. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events.
NISE Network Partner Reopening Strategies
May 26, 2020
2-3pm Eastern / 11am-12pm Pacific
Over the past month(s), shutdowns have caused our institutions to rethink and redesign the ways in which we engage our communities. Join this discussion on strategies and approaches to navigating the reopening of our doors to the communities we love to serve. Learn more and sign up
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
NISE Network partners excel during COVID-19 shutdown
These past couple of months, Network partners have continued to find creative ways to remotely engage their communities in fun science learning experiences and provide outreach throughout the COVID-19 shutdown. Here are just a few partner highlights that have been shared online through social media, including partners taking part in the first ever virtual Earth Day and Earth Week festivities.
Star Night's annual event pivots indoors at White Mountain Nature Center in Pinetop, Arizona
The annual Spring Astronomy Night was planned for mid-March with a star party, including NISE Net Earth & Space hands-on activities and a StarLab. But the week before threw a curve ball — the Covid crisis erupted and a spring storm was in the forecast. Star Night as planned needed to pivot the event indoors. Read the full partner highlight to learn that even when events don't go exactly as planned, they can still make an impact!
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
NISE Network online workshops
View the recordings and resources from recent NISE Net online workshops:
Virtual Camps and Strategies to Reach Underserved Communities and Underrepresented Groups (Recorded) — NISE and Network partners share resources and strategies for launching virtual camps, programs, and reaching audiences.
UPDATED: COVID-19 Resources
The NISE Network's COVID-19 resources page has been updated with more museum resources, including guidance on reopening, and new evaluation and research resources. Check out these resources and much more
NEW: Sustainable Futures program, Imagine Our Community 2100
This discussion-based activity encourages participants to imagine their community 80 years into the future using the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more and download activity materials
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES
The Alchemy of Us - How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another
Explore this new book by materials scientist and science writer, Ainissa Ramirez, who examines and explains how inventions have transformed society. Read more
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/.
May
- NASA's Night Sky Network - Monthly astronomical events
- SciStarter Citizen Science Calendar of events
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- 5/4-5/10: National Children's Book Week — view free downloadable NISE Net books
- 5/11-17: National Week of Making — view NISE Net Frankenstein200 kit
June
- 6/5: World Environment Day — view NISE Net SustainABLE kit
- 6/8: World Oceans Day
- 6/21-6/27: National Mosquito Control Awareness Week: Fight the Bite — view NISE Net Should We Engineer the Mosquito? forum
- 2020 Summer Reading Theme: Imagine Your Story — view NISE Net's Alice in NanoLand free downloadable PDF
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
These 10 award-winning children's museums offer online programs
Shortly after announcing the winners, these museums had to close their doors to help protect their communities from the spread of COVID-19. But they also pivoted, bringing some of their programming online, so families across the country can experience a bit of what makes them winners.
Earth and Space News
NASA to provide coverage of SpaceX commercial crew test flight with astronauts
Scheduled for May 27, this historic test flight will send two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in a rocket created by SpaceX. With the potential of commercial space companies taking over routine transportation to the ISS, NASA can focus its efforts on venturing further out into space.
- Resources: NASA's Commercial Crew Launch Kit
NASA's Curiosity keeps rolling as team operates rover from home
Just like us, members of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover mission team learned to meet new challenges while working remotely but with a twist: They're operating a rover on Mars!
Chemistry News
A chemist's guide to disinfectants
With demand outpacing supply, some people are looking for ways to create their own disinfectants. Chemical & Engineering News has constructed a guide explaining the ingredients in disinfectants, providing helpful advice when considering DIY options.
Synthetic Biology News
CRISPR gene editing may help scale up Coronavirus testing
Testing is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome during this pandemic and the gene-editing technology CRISPR is making a bid to help fill in holes in testing regimes with the potential to provide faster and cheaper tests.
Nanotechnology News
The superpowers of spider silk
This podcast explores spider silk, one of the most impressive materials found in nature, so strong and tough that it out competes some of the best engineering materials like steel.
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
2020 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo
May 18 and June 1-4; Online
NOW VIRTUAL — Learn more and register
Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) 2020 Annual Conference
October 17-20, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Learn more — Themed, New Frontiers
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences
Learn more about upcoming conferences