APRIL 2026
NETWORK NEWS
Amazing NASA Artemis II Images
During their lunar flyby that took them farther into space than any humans ever before, the crew of Artemis II captured a breathtaking image of a celestial event known as an "Earthset," in which the Earth dropped below the lunar horizon. The image is reminiscent of the iconic "Earthrise" photo from 1968. Image Credit: NASA
More Artemis II Lunar Flyby photos
Moon activities and resources
https://www.nisenet.org/moon
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
If you are attending these conferences, please be sure to connect with NISE Network staff and projects.
Association of Children's Museums InterActivity Conference 2026 this April in San Diego
nisenet.org/ACM2026
American Alliance of Museums - 2026 AAM Annual Meeting this May in Philadelphia, PA
nisenet.org/AAM2026
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
• Finding and Collaborating with NASA Experts - Solar System Ambassadors and Night Sky Network
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
2-3pm Eastern
Learn more and register
• Library Collaborations to Engage Local Public Audiences
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
2-3pm Eastern
Learn more and register
• America at 250 - Just in time resources you can use at science centers and children's museums
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
2-3pm Eastern
Learn more and register
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
New Professional Learning Video:
Perspectives on STEM Learning Ecosystems, Belonging, and Authentic STEM Engagement
A new video is available from the STEM Learning Ecosystems project. This is the sixth video in our professional learning series that introduces practitioners to STEM Learning Ecosystems. In this video, we ask professionals from across the country who are involved in STEM learning ecosystems to tell us about their experiences and to reflect on why community partnerships matter when creating opportunities for learners to engage in STEM.
Watch the new video
Learn about the six-part video series
Recent Publications:
• “Communities of transformation: an example from the museum field,” by Rae Ostman and Nich Weller has been published in Museum Management and Curatorship. This peer-reviewed journal article explores the Sustainability Fellowship as a community of transformation.
Learn more
More publications:
nisenet.org/publications
Online Workshop Recordings:
• Museums Share Experiences Participating in STEM Learning Ecosystems
(recorded 3-31-2026)
Learn more
Young People Co-creating STEM Engagement Projects (recorded 2-3-26)
Learn more
• How to Be a Part of 2.50 Million Acts of Science with SciStarter (recorded 1-13-26)
Learn more
• More online workshop recordings
United States 250th “Semiquincentennial”
Resources to help plan relevant programming for the United States' 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial)
nisenet.org/america250
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
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
Science Central in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Opens New Planetarium
Long time NISE Network partner, Science Central, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, opened a new 1,830-square-foot planetarium on March 25, 2026! A feat ten years in the making, the new state-of-the-art facility is the region’s only public planetarium and will provide visitors with stunning views and wonderful new programing from the museum. In the days after the ribbon cutting, the museum also held Space Day, an event full of special demonstrations, hands-on activities, information about careers in space, and of course, planetarium shows.
Learn more
Maine Discovery Museum Wins IMLS National Medal for Museums and Library Service
In February 2026, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced its 2025 winners of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Among the short list of ten awarded institutions is long time partner and friend of the NISE Network, Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor, Maine! Maine Discovery Museum is one of just five museums honored in the United States, and the only museum in the Northeast to receive this distinction in 2025. This is also the first time in the 30-year history of the award that a Maine museum has been recognized.
Learn more
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Citizen Science Month
During April and in celebration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, SciStarter will rally thousands of volunteers worldwide to complete 2.50 Million Acts of Science. SciStarter is looking for libraries and museums to host events.
Learn more
America250: Celebrating American Innovation
Poster Exhibition, Planetarium Show, and Resource Guide
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (Frost Science) is celebrating the American spirit of creativity and discovery through championing 250 American scientists, innovators, and engineers across the fields of marine science, paleontology, human health, astronomy, and aeronautics and flight. The Frost is offering the following resources to institutions interested in celebrating innovation: poster exhibition, short planetarium show, resource guide highlighting 250 American scientists, innovators, and engineers, and a lesson plan for grades 9-12.
• Fill out this interest form to receive resources in early May
• Learn more
Moments That Made US
Customizable Exhibition Panels
As part of the commemoration of America’s 250th, Moments That Made US is a free, customizable, print-on-demand exhibition exploring defining moments in U.S. history. Developed as an exhibition at the History Colorado Center and adapted for sharing through a multi-state collaboration, the exhibition will feature 21 modular, ready-to-use panels with the option to add local content. Materials are free to download so the only cost is printing and mounting in your space.
• Fill out the interest form
• Download the user guide
Proceedings from the NSF 2026
Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) virtual Awardee Meeting are now available
The REVISE Center hosted the 2026 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting virtually in February; posters and many session slides and recordings are now available.
Learn more
State of Girls and Women in STEM 2026
National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) has released the 2026 annual report tracking key trends in STEM education and workforce participation. Explore this year’s data and insights shaping opportunites for girls and young women nationwide.
Learn more
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
NEUROSCIENCE NEWS
Researchers following 1,668 children over a decade have found that three specific behaviors as a toddler (active play with parents, limited screen time, and consistent sleep) are powerful predictors of how active a child will be at age 12. The study highlights that movement habits aren’t just personality traits; they are foundations built in toddlerhood habits.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Brain and neuroscience resources
GENETICS NEWS
Mosquitoes have been biting people for more than a million years!
An analysis of modern mosquito DNA suggests an ancestral mosquito species developed a preference for feeding on early humans between 2.9 and 1.6 million years ago.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Genetics resources
• Health resources
HEALTH NEWS
Can red light therapy really deliver beauty and health improvements? It can be challenging to distinguish science from hype when it comes to red light devices aimed at consumers. Scientists have found solid evidence that red light therapy, which is formally called photobiomodulation therapy, is safe and effective for some medical uses including treating pattern hair loss, ulcers, peripheral neuropathy, several types of ulcers, and acute radiation dermatitis.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Light resources
• Health resources
SPACE NEWS
The Artemis II crew of NASA astronauts returned safely after their historic lunar flyby mission. During the nearly 10-day mission, the crew completed a record-setting lunar flyby, taking them 252,756 miles at their farthest distance from Earth.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
ENGINEERING & AI NEWS
New bio-robotic “cyborg” Madagascar hissing cockroaches that contain electronic components and artificial intelligence are being developed for use in military scouting operations. Robotics and artificial intelligence and biological sciences are combined to develop new capabilities that also raise ethical and regulatory concerns.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Engineering and robot resources
NANOTECHNOLOGY NEWS
Scientists trying to understand a puzzling aspect of static electricity didn’t expect to find the answer in a substance colloquially known as “schmutz” or surface contamination. After much experimentation, the scientists have evidence that carbon-based surface contaminants – in other words, schmutz – are, in fact, the determining factor in how electric charge flows when certain types of insulating materials come into contact.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Exploring Forces - Static Electricity
• Exploring the Universe: Static Electricity
• Carbon activities
• NanoDays activities
• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources
WEATHER NEWS
In an effort to improve public understanding, the National Hurricane Center has revised the hurricane “cone of uncertainty,” graphics to include color coded watches and warnings.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
RADIO & WEATHER NEWS
Legislation is pending in Congress that would significantly upgrade radio emergency alerts. If passed, the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act would modernize transmitters and broadcasting systems and expand coverage in areas with limited cell phone service.
Learn more
NISE Network 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
Year-long 2026
APRIL
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- Citizen Science Month (April)
- National Kite Month (April)
- National Poetry Month (April)
- Global Astronomy Month (April)
- Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
- National Arab American Heritage Month (April)
- Star Trek First Contact Day (April 5)
- National Robotics Week / RoboWeek (April 4-12, 2026)
- National Public Health Week (first full week in April) / World Health Day (April 7)
- Yuri's Night (April 12)
- International Dark Sky Week (April 13-20, 2026)
- World Quantum Day (April 14)
- World Art Day (April 15)
- World Creativity and Innovation Day (April 21)
- Earth Day (April 22)
- DNA Day (April 25)
- Arbor Day (last Friday in April)
MAY
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Month (May)
- National Wildfire Awareness Month (May)
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May)
- National Bike Month (May)
National Ride A Bike Day (first Sunday in May)
Bike to Work Week (mid-May) - Air Quality Awareness Week (first week of May)
- Black Hole Week (first week of May)
- May the Fourth Be With You - Star Wars Day (May 4)
- National Astronaut Day (May 5)
- Commemorates the first United States human spaceflight, on May 5, 1961, piloted by astronaut Alan Shepard
- NISE Network astronomy resources
- Voyage through the Solar System activities
- National Children’s Book Week (May 4-10)
- International Day of Planetariums (May 7)
- International Day of Light (May 16)
- National Public Works Week (mid-May)
- International Museum Day (May 18)
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) (mid-May)
- Endangered Species Day (third Friday in May)
- National Paper Airplane Day (May 26)
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
- ASTC List of Conferences in the Community
Learn more - Association of Children's Museums (ACM) InterActivity, April 21-23, 2026, San Diego, CA
Learn more - American Alliance of Museums 2026 AAM Annual Meeting, May 20-23, 2026, Philadelphia, PA
Learn more - Science Events Summit, May 31 - June 2, 2026, Jackson, MS
Learn more - Smithsonian National Education Summit, July 14-16, 2026, free for virtual attendees
Learn more - National Rural STEM Summit, August 26-29, 2026, Fort McDowell, AZ
Learn more - ASTC Conference, September 16-19, 2026, Phoenix, AZ
Learn more - National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences
Learn more