JUNE 2022
NETWORK NEWS
Making Earth & Space Science More Relevant and Inclusive
This new self-paced course is based on resources developed for the NISE Network’s Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community which took place in 2021-2022. These resources are designed to help museum and science center educators make Earth & Space science relevant and inclusive for their local communities. The collection of resources features written materials, slides, and videos for you to explore at your own pace.
Learn more
Association of Children’s Museums InterActivity Conference
It was wonderful to see so many NISE Network partners in person at the ACM conference this month. We have our concurrent session slides from NISE Network related sessions and our booth handouts posted a nisenet.org/ACM2022
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
• June 14, 2022
Reconnect and Re-engage with the NISE Network 2022 - An Overview of Projects and Time to Connect
Join us for this opportunity to reconnect and re-engage with your NISE Network friends and colleagues. We will have a brief overview of the Network for new staff, an update on projects, and then the majority of the workshop will be spent in breakout groups. As always, we want to hear from you! You’ll have time to chat with others in the network and catch up on where colleagues find themselves and their programming in the aftermath of another year of not-so-normal programming.
Learn more and register
• July 19, 2022
Tools for Engaging Communities and Incorporating Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Practices
In this online workshop, we will explore the Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) tools and resources that the NISE Network and other organizations have to offer, alongside stories of this work from members of the Making Earth & Space Relevant and Inclusive Professional Learning Community.
Learn more and register
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
Feeding Hungry Lives and Hungry Minds Worldwide
The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is partnering up with other community-based and human services organizations to feed hungry lives and hungry minds. The COSI Connects: Learning Lunchbox initiative is an innovative program led by COSI and an incredible network of meal providers, libraries, museums, and cultural institutions to deliver hundreds of thousands of free, hands-on science kits, called Learning Lunchbox kits, to support efforts to help address learning loss and disparities in learning that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic–specifically with inner city and rural communities.
Learn how your institution could become a Learning Lunchbox distribution partner in your local community.
Read more
Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, GA Develops New Tactile Exhibit "Layers of the Atmosphere"
With guidance from the NISE Network’s Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community, the Museum of Arts and Sciences partnered with teachers from the Georgia Academy for the Blind to achieve a shared goal of increasing opportunities for greater awareness, understanding, and access for the visually impaired.
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The Nano Mini-Exhibition arrives at the Lewisburg Children’s Museum in Pennsylvania
After more than ten years, the Nano mini-exhibition is still going strong and can now be seen by visitors at the Lewisburg Children's Museum. Check out their photos, walk-through video, and learn how your institution can get on the waiting list for Nano.
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The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center Gives a Warm Welcome to the Sun, Earth, Universe Exhibition
Partners at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center kicked-off Memorial Day weekend with a new exhibition - the NISE Network’s Sun, Earth, Universe exhibit! Check out the awesome video staff created that captures the exhibit’s arrival and installation. Also learn how your institution can be added to the waiting list for Sun, Earth, Universe.
Read more
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope First Images
First full-color images and spectroscopic data are anticipated to be released July 12, 2022.
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
Recorded NISE Network online workshops
View the recordings and resources from recent NISE Net online workshops:
- Online Workshop: Earth and Space Resource Roundup - an Overview of All the NISE Network has to Offer (recorded 5/3/2022) View the recording
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Talking with Children about Violence and Tragedies
We could all use some help having conversations with children about tragic events in the news. Navigating these conversations isn't easy, and this compilation of resources can be helpful with both children and adults.
Learn more
IF/THEN® Gender Equity Grant Funding
ASTC grant funding of up to $4,000 is available to support projects that use materials from our IF/THEN® Project Library. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, 2022, or until all available funds are awarded. Learn more
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 resources and graphics (Box Folder)
- Artemis I Launch and Splashdown Event Planning Guide
- NISE Network Moon and Artemis resources nisenet.org/moon
COVID-19 Coronavirus and Vaccine Resources
NISE Network continues to compile resources as the situation continues to evolve:
-
COVID-19 museum resources
- Vaccine museum resources
- Through a federal partnership Association of Children's Museums is supporting programs, events, and exhibits in children’s museums to build broader vaccine confidence. ACM has created a four-panel exhibit sharing critical information about vaccines with parents and caregivers, available for free to museums to download and print. Learn 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: nisenet.org/seasons
JUNE
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- Summer Reading
- Sun and Sand
- Exploring Properties - Heat Transfer activity
- Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping activity
- Nano Ice Cream activity
- Invisible Sunblock activity
- Exploring Products - Nano Sand activity
- Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand activity
- Exploring Products - Sunblock program
- Why are Seashells so Strong? program
- Summer Camp
- Pride Month (June) - celebrate people in STEM
- Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June) dates vary by state
- National Dairy Month (June)
- International Nature Journaling Week (first week in June)
- World Environment Day (June 5)
- World Oceans Day (June 8)
- Juneteenth (June 19) - celebrate people in STEM
- Summer Solstice (June 21)
- Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons).
- Moon resources
- International Women in Engineering Day (June 23)
- National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (last full week in June)
- Asteroid Day (June 30)
JULY
- Plastic Free July (July)
- Moon Landing - anniversary of Apollo 11 first step on the Moon July 20, 1969 (July 20)
- National Ice Cream Day (July 18)
- World Brain Day (July 22)
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
-
Visitor Studies Association Conference, July 12-14, 2022, Omaha
-
ASTC Conference, September 12-15, 2022, Pittsburgh
-
CAISE InformalScience.org conference calendar
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National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY NEWS
Billions of genetically modified male mosquitoes are being released in Florida in an effort to combat diseases. The release of the modified mosquitoes in Florida was launched following State approval in May 2022, after the federal EPA approved releases in California and Florida approved the release in May 2022. The mosquitoes are being distributed using Oxitec’s just-add-water mosquito boxes.
Read more and more
NISE Network resources:
• Should We Engineer the Mosquito? Forum
• Health and Medicine resources
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
A new study about wildfires and air quality in California advises that resource and fire managers working in forests shift their emphasis from reducing burned area to reducing fire severity and fire damage to people and property, and restoring key ecosystem functions after fire.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
SPACE NEWS
Our Milky Way galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center, but we’ve never actually seen it until now. The NSF-funded Event Horizon Telescope recently released the first image of our galactic black hole, Sagittarius A* (pronounced “Sagittarius A-star” and abbreviated Sgr A*).
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Astronomy resources
EARTH SCIENCE NEWS
A new study finds ice shards in Antarctic clouds let more solar energy reach Earth's surface. Clouds come in many shapes, sizes and types, which control their effects on climate. New research shows that the splintering of frozen liquid droplets to form ice shards inside Southern Ocean clouds dramatically affects the clouds' ability to reflect sunlight back to space.
Read more
NASA resources:
NISE Network resources:
• Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds activity