APRIL 2022
NETWORK NEWS
Association of Children’s Museums InterActivity Conference in May
We are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new people in person at the Association of Children’s Museums InterActivity conference in May in Saint Louis. The NISE Network will have a booth and will be participating in sessions.
Learn more nisenet.org/ACM2022
NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei breaks U.S. record for longest time in space
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei has become the U.S. astronaut with the single longest spaceflight in history! The previous record of 340 days had been set in 2013 by astronaut Scott Kelly. The NASA astronaut returned to Earth in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 30, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov after 355 days in space. Enjoy a few photos of Mark Vande Hei during a visit to the Science Museum of Minnesota in Saint Paul, Minnesota during the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing back in 2019. His visit included a presentation, meeting visitors, and getting sniffed by a life-sized juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex puppet! Read more
UPCOMING EVENTS
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 select Tuesdays at 2pm-3pm Eastern. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events
- May 3, 2022
Earth and Space Resource Roundup - an Overview of All the NISE Network has to Offer
Learn more and register - June 14, 2022
Reconnect and Re-engage with the NISE Network 2022 - An Overview of Projects and Time to Reconnect
Learn more and register - July 19 2022
Tools for Engaging Communities and Incorporating Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Practices
Learn more and register
Association of Children’s Museums InterActivity Conference
May 16-18, 2022, Saint Louis
Learn more about NISE Network activities at the conference
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
California Science Center Shines a Light on Light
The California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA has a mission to inspire science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable experiences, even virtually! In preparation for the James Webb Space Telescope Launch, two education staff, Elaine and Evelyn, set out to do just that by creating a bilingual set of videos and activity sheets. The videos feature some of the satellites on display, and introduce viewers to light waves and how the James Webb Space Telescope will utilize different wavelengths of light. They even include a fun activity inspired by one from the NISE Network’s Explore Science: Earth and Space activities.
Read more
Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas Honors African American Pioneers of Earth and Space Science for Black History Month
As part of Black History Month, Exploration Place in Wichita, KS paid tribute to four black pioneers in Earth and space science by projecting their portraits onto the side of the science center’s iconic riverfront building. Each week in February 2022 honored a new individual including: Katherine Johnson, Warren Washington, Mae Jemison, and John Brooks Slaughter. This work started as part of a project within the NISE Network’s Earth and Space project-based professional learning community.
Read more
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
Looking for an easy way to discover resources on the nisenet.org website?
Check out our “Browse by Themes and Topics,” featuring curated collections of hands-on activities and resources by themes and STEM topics: nisenet.org/browse-topic
Featured collections
- Earth Day resources
- STEAM activities
- Genetics and DNA resources
- Health resources
- Webb Space Telescope resources
Recorded NISE Network online workshops
View the recordings and resources from recent NISE Net online workshops:
- Working with STEM Experts - If Only There Was A Guide... Now There Is! (recorded 3/1/2022) View the recording
- Online Workshop: Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences (recorded 4/5/2022) View the recording
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NASA Artemis I Resources
Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test taking place in 2022 that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration. Learn how you can participate:
- NASA Artemis I public outreach resource and graphics
- Artemis I Launch and Splashdown Event Planning Guide
- NISE Network Moon and Artemis resources nisenet.org/moon
COVID-19 Coronavirus and Vaccine Resources
New resources are available from the “We Can Do This” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ campaign to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence, specifically to share critical information with parents and caregivers related to vaccinations for children. A partnership with the Association of Children's Museums includes the creation and dissemination of a four-panel exhibit available for free to museums to download and print. Learn more
NISE Network continues to compile resources as the situation continues to evolve:
Interested in Starting a Teen Science Café Program?
Teen Science Café programs are a way for teens to engage in lively conversations with STEM experts that explore the advances in science and technology that affect their lives. Partners interested in learning more, starting a chapter, or discussing ways to incorporate NISE Network resources into events can contact Bree Oatman, a Teen Science Café Leader, at South Dakota Discovery Center: [email protected]
Learn more
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
CHEMISTRY NEWS
A children’s book travels through history to ask: Where does 'Blue' come from? Blue traces the color through time and around the world: from Afghanistan's lapis lazuli, made into jewelry, ground to create eye shadow and paint, to the indigo plant grown on plantations in India and Bangladesh, soaked in water and used to dye fabric.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Nature of Dye activity
• Chemistry is Colorful activity
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
NANOTECHNOLOGY NEWS
Synthetic enamel could make teeth stronger and smarter. Enamel, the tough outer covering of a tooth, is the hardest substance in the human body. It is also notoriously difficult to replicate artificially. A team of chemical and structural engineers has invented a new material that mimics enamel’s properties.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY NEWS
Laboratory-grown meat that companies are racing to bring to market raises questions about how we feed ourselves. Read more
Plant based meat producers hope to underprice their animal-based competition to attract more consumers; new reports show this could happen sooner than expected. Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Bio Bistro activity
• Food activities
• Building with Biology kit
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
An ice shelf the size of New York City has collapsed in a part of East Antarctica, an area long thought to be stable and not hit much by climate change following a sudden warm spell. The collapse, captured by satellite images, marked the first time in human history that the frigid region had an ice shelf collapse.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
A bio-based plastic, colloquially termed “DNA plastic,” is made from natural DNA and biomass-derived ionomers. The DNA plastics inventors say they are compatible with the environment in that all raw materials are derived from bio-renewable resources and processing approaches are environmentally friendly, without involving high-energy consumption.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
SPACE NEWS
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has completed a major mirror alignment milestone this month. First images are expected this summer.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Webb Space Telescope resources
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: nisenet.org/seasons
APRIL
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- Citizen Science Month (April)
- National Kite Month (April)
- Global Astronomy Month (April)
- Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month (April)
- National Arab American Heritage Month (April) - celebrate people in STEM
- Star Trek First Contact Day (April 5)
- World Health Day (April 7)/National Public Health Week (first week in April)
- International Dark Sky Week (first week in April)
- National Robotics Week / RoboWeek (April 2-10l)
- Yuri's Night (April 12)
- World Quantum Day (April 14)
- World Art Day (April 15)
- Earth Day (April 22)
- DNA Day (April 25)
MAY
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Month (May) - celebrate people in STEM
- Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
- PBS AAPI History Spotlight: Saluting STEM Pioneers
- NASA Asian Pacific American Heritage
- The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
- Posters and videos that illustrate specific examples of STEAM within traditional Pacific island culture and practices
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May)
- May the Fourth Be With You - Star Wars Day (May 4)
- National Children’s Book Week (May 2-8)
- International Day of Light (May 16)
- National Week of Making (May 16-22)
- National Public Works Week (May15-22)
- International Museum Day (May 18)
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) (May 19, 2022)
- Endangered Species Day (third Friday in May)
- National Paper Airplane Day (May 26)
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
-
Association of Children’s Museums, May 16-18, 2022, Saint Louis
-
Visitor Studies Association Conference, July 12-14, 2022, Omaha
-
ASTC Conference, September 12-15, 2022, Pittsburgh
-
CAISE InformalScience.org conference calendar
-
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences