MAY 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
Best wishes to Brad Herring
Brad Herring will be leaving the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC to start a new venture as a videographer and storyteller. Brad’s last day at the museum will be May 25, 2022. Many of you know Brad from his work leading NISE Network online workshops, our Earth & Space project-based professional learning community, and as the Southeast regional hub leader. We are grateful for all of Brad’s efforts over the past fifteen years and wish him all the best with his new endeavor.
Learn more
Streamlining Partner Communications
The NISE Network is streamlining our partner communications so that Christina Leavell will become our Community Manager and the primary contact for all NISE Network partners. Going forward, partners in any geographic region can reach out to Christina with any questions, concerns, or stories to share about network projects and opportunities. We also wanted to alert you about upcoming projects and opportunities.
Learn more
Upcoming Projects and Opportunities
A quick summary of NISE Network projects and opportunities is
available for download.
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 Reconnect
Learn more and register
• July 19, 2022
Tools for Engaging Communities and Incorporating Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Practices
Learn more and register
Lunar Eclipse - May 15
A total Lunar Eclipse will be visible Sunday night, May 15, into the early morning of Monday, May 16 for the Eastern US; the Western US will see a partial eclipse. Find the exact time for your location.
You can find more public engagement resources at: nisenet.org/lunareclipses
Association of Children’s Museums InterActivity Conference
May 16-18, 2022, Saint Louis
Learn more about NISE Network activities at the conference
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
Physics Phun Day with University of Vermont at ECHO in Burlington, VT
University of Vermont students, staff, and faculty from the Physics Department recently spent a day at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont to host a “Physics Phun Day,” where they facilitated hands-on activities and demonstrations about how scientists trap and study very cold atoms.
Read more
Junior Ranger Night Explorers at Imagine Nation in Bristol, Connecticut
Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center in Bristol, CT, and a division of the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol, celebrated space science last fall with a Junior Ranger Night Explorer outdoor event. Visitors viewed the Moon and stars using a real telescope, learned how stars form with the Star Formation activity, created a lunar mission with Moon Story Blocks, experimented with Hide and Seek Moon, and crafted a glowing stomp rocket.
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
Recorded NISE Network online workshops
View the recordings and resources from recent NISE Net online workshops:
- Online Workshop: Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences (recorded 4/5/2022) View the recording
- 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
STEM for All Video Showcase
This year's showcase will have over 250 short videos depicting innovative, federally funded projects aimed at improving Science, Technology, Math, Engineering and CS education. You are invited to view, discuss, and vote May 10-17. Learn more
New 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 Crew Members Available to Answer Questions
Through a new program called Groundlink, children can connect with the crew inside NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) who are learning more about living in isolation and close quarters. The program is modeled after Downlinks, which connects children to astronauts aboard the International Space Station for a question-and-answer session, the Groundlinks program allows students to interface with the analog crew to learn more about the research NASA is performing on Earth to prepare for future space exploration missions.
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
- 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:
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
CHEMISTRY NEWS
Why do most people love the smell of vanilla and peaches and not sweaty feet?
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Chemistry Makes Sense activity
• More sense of smell activities
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY NEWS
Editing the genome of a living relative of the Christmas Island rat could create something that looks like the extinct rodent, but it would lack some important genes. Read more
NISE Network resources:
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
Opinions and understanding about climate change vary widely depending on where people live. The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication is offering new climate opinion factsheets customized for each county and state in the United States.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
SPACE NEWS
With the completion of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s optical alignment, work is now focused on testing all of the scientific instruments. First images are anticipated 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
MAY
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- 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)
JUNE
- 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
- Nanotechnology Summer Camp (Ages 8 - 10) framework
- High School Nanotechnology Summer Camp framework
- After School Nanoscale Science framework
- Explore Science Zoom into Nano modules and videos
- Pride Month (June) - celebrate people in STEM
- Pride in STEM Day
- LGBTQ+ STEM
- Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)
- Out to Innovate™, formerly known as National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP)
- 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 https://www.nisenet.org/moon
- International Women in Engineering Day (June 23)
- National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (last full week in June)
- Asteroid Day (June 30)
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