Newsletter: April 2020
NETWORK NEWS
Coronavirus resources and Network response
Our thoughts are with you, our partners, and all those affected by the coronavirus. We know many partner institutions have temporarily closed their facilities and have canceled public events in order to help protect your communities. We want you to know that the safety of your staff, volunteers, and public audiences is of the utmost importance to all of us in the NISE Network. Stay healthy and take care of yourself and your families.
Due to postponed and canceled Explore Science spring events, the Part A toolkit reporting deadline is being extended. Read more
The Network has compiled resources for our community around COVID-19, highlighting relevant museum resources and activities to use during this transitional time. Explore coronavirus resources
RESOURCES: Do Science at Home! Hands-on activities
Explore a wide variety of STEM hands-on activities that can be done at home with materials you may already have. These include NISE Net and NASA resources, DIY apps, videos, and citizen science projects. View at-home resources
NEW: Sustainable Futures program materials available online
This collection of new public programs explores sustainable futures, including the Good Life Challenge, an at-home activity that highlights the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. Check out all the new Sustainable Futures programs
UPCOMING EVENTS
CANCELED: Association of Children's Museums (ACM) InterActivity 2020
Due to the rapidly evolving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the community and the local restrictions on large gatherings, ACM has announced the cancellation of their meeting in St. Louis, scheduled for May 5-8.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, April 22
Whether in person or remotely, let's come together and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by helping to increase the awareness of the planet we live on. The NISE Network has compiled many resources to help you engage your community, many of which can be done from home, online or virtually. Learn more at https://www.nisenet.org/earth50.
Chemists Celebrate Earth Week, April 19-25
During the 50th anniversary of Earth Week, celebrate Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW), April 19-25, themed "Protecting Our Planet through Chemistry." Discover ways to participate in CCEW through activities, a poetry contest, videos, and more.
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.
Celebrating Earth Day 2020 at Home
April 7, 2020
2-3pm Eastern / 11am-12pm Pacific
Join us to learn more about how we can all get a little creative and still celebrate this year's 50th anniversary of Earth Day and Earth Week (April 18-26). Together, let's explore resources and ways to host online and at-home Earth Day and Week activities and events. Learn more and sign up now
Have a little extra time on your hands and looking for some professional development?
Explore the archive of NISE Net's online workshops; recordings and resources cover all NISE Net projects and beyond. Start exploring now
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
Learn how Network partners are remaining resilient and adapting during current times
NISE Network partners all across the country are rapidly adjusting to changing times, learning how to adapt in-person programming into virtual and at-home learning experiences. This is no small feat and we want to highlight the amazing work our partners are doing and have shared online over the last couple of weeks during the COVID-19 shutdown. View partner programming, shared resources, and get inspired!
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
NISE Network online workshops
View the recording and resources from recent NISE Net online workshops:
- NISE Net Online Informal Get-Together: Sharing Resources & Strategies for Engaging and Supporting our Communities during COVID-19 NISE Net staff shared at-home resources compiled for the Network community, and opened up discussions for partners to share their own strategies and resources.
- Sustainability and Museum Visitors: Exhibits, Programs, and Other Ways to Engage the Public (Part 3) Network partners share how they're integrating sustainability into their exhibits, programs, and other public-facing museum experiences.
- The Science Behind the 2020 Explore Science: Earth & Space Toolkit - Asteroid Mining (Part 3) After exploring the science behind the Asteroid Mining activity, guest presenters discuss laws surrounding and the social implications of asteroid mining.
TIPS: Working from home resources
For some, this may be your first time working from home, which can be difficult enough without the added complications of the current situation. View this compilation from various resources that can be helpful when starting to work from home.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES
Check out NASA's eClips Spring Newsletter, Earth Day edition
Explore NASA resources that teachers and educators can share with students and families for Earth Day. View NASA eClips spring newsletter
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/.
April
- NASA's Night Sky Network - Monthly astronomical events
- SciStarter Citizen Science Calendar of events
- Citizen Science Month
- Global Astronomy Month
- National Poetry Month
- 3/28-4/5: NanoDays - explore the NanoDays online archive for activities
- 4/7: World Health Day
- 4/22: Earth Day - 50th Anniversary - https://www.nisenet.org/earth50
- 4/19-4/25: Chemists Celebrate Earth Week
- 4/24: 30th Anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope
Upcoming events
- Global Astronomy Month (May)
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May)
- 5/4: May the Fourth Be With You - Star Wars Day
- 5/4-5/10: National Children's Book Week
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
A short guide to self-care and social distancing
Watch this short Risk Bites video, a guide to looking after yourself when stuck at home as a result of social distancing. Video created and produced by Andrew Maynard in association with Arizona State University.
Earth and Space News
Traffic and pollution plummet across the U.S. and globe as cities shut down for coronavirus
While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts daily routines for months, experts say that if everything goes back to business as usual when this ends, the drop in heat-trapping emissions will likely amount to just a blip on trend lines that show the world is moving toward unsustainable levels of carbon dioxide emission.
- See how traffic and pollution has dropped in major U.S. cities during the COVID-19 shutdown.
- Both China and Italy have recorded significant declines in nitrogen dioxide, which is related to reduced traffic and industrial activity.
- Even the water in the canals in Venice, Italy have cleared up in the absence of boat traffic with fish now visible and other wildlife returning to the waterways.
Chemistry News
How soap annihilates the coronavirus
You're not just washing viruses down the drain, soap destroys the coronavirus.
Watch the American Chemical Society's Reactions video, Can soap really 'kill' the Coronavirus? to learn the chemistry behind why soap is so effective against viruses.
Nanotechnology News
COVID-19, nano, and you
One way to think about coronavirus and nanoscience is to remember that viruses are often the same size as nanoparticles. Explore resources to help you better understand the science behind COVID-19.
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences
STEM Forum & Expo in Louisville – July 22-24, 2020
Pittsburgh Conference – October 29-31, 2020
New Orleans Conference – November 19-21, 2020
Phoenix Conference – December 10-12, 2020
Learn more
CANCELED - Association of Children's Museums (ACM) InterActivity 2020
May 5-8, 2020; St. Louis, Missouri
Read more
CANCELED - 2020 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo
May 17-20, 2020; San Francisco, California
Read more
Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) 2020 Annual Conference
October 17-20, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Learn more - Themed, New Frontiers