May 2025
NETWORK NEWS
Changing Federal Priorities for STEM, Public Engagement, and Education
Many federal agencies are undergoing significant transitions as they align with the priorities of the new federal administration. These changes have already led to major reductions in ongoing scientific research, public engagement in STEM, and educational programs. In addition to federal staff reductions, there have been sudden terminations of existing awarded grants and the “archiving” of active solicitations. Meanwhile, the current version of the president's proposed budget includes historic cuts to STEM research, public engagement, and education.
We are saddened to hear about the sudden termination of so many programs and projects, impacting communities across the nation. The work NISE Network partners do to engage the public in STEM topics has lasting effects on both individuals and the communities they serve. Collectively, these programs enrich the fabric of our national life by fostering lifelong learning, delivering valuable educational experiences, and supporting important scientific research. Your efforts to help people better understand the world around them and to empower them to participate in science throughout their lifetimes, make our world a better place.
- Illustrated stories of scientists impacted by federal budget cuts
- Crowd-sourced lists of terminated NSF and NIH grants
- NASA terminated grants from the Planetary Society
Navigating Change
As many of us are adapting and responding to rapid changes and uncertainty related to the change in federal administration, you may find the the following resources helpful:
Bridge funding opportunity for terminated NSF projects:
Advice about federal grant or contract termination:
- National Council of Nonprofits: What To Do When Your Federal Grant Or Contract Is Terminated
- American Association of University Professors: Understanding the Law and Policies for Grant Terminations for the National Science Foundation
- American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
News from trusted sources:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
- National Council of Nonprofits
- Nonprofit Quarterly
- The Chronicle of Higher Education
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
• America 250 - How Can Children's Museums and Science Centers Celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial?
Tuesday, June 3 2025
2-3pm Eastern
The United States will commemorate its 250th (or “Semiquincentennial”) anniversary beginning in 2026. This nonpartisan initiative hopes to engage every American in an opportunity to pause and reflect on the nation's past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. Commemorative events will take place between 2025-2033 - focusing on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 through the end of the Revolutionary war in 1783.
Join the NISE Network as we take a look at some of the many resources available to help plan relevant programming for our communities. We will be joined by NISE Network partners who are already planning their public engagement events and who will share ideas about ways other partners can get involved too.
Learn more and register
Association of Children's Museums Interactivity Conference
May 14-16, 2025, Albuquerque, NM
The NISE Network is looking forward to seeing many partners at the conference! We’ll be at booth #61 in the InterActivity MarketPlace 2025 exhibit hall; catch us here or during a concurrent session.
nisenet.org/ACM2025
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
Online Workshop Recordings:
• Creating Relevant and Meaningful STEM Experiences
(recorded on 4-15-25)
Learn more
• Museum Experiences Participating in STEM Learning Ecosystems (recorded on 3-4-25)
Learn more
• Introduction to STEM Learning Ecosystems - Principles and Practices for Community-wide Partnerships
(recorded on 2-11-25)
Learn more
• STEM Identity & Career Interest for Students Traditionally Underrepresented in STEM
(recorded on 1-14-25)
Learn more
• More online workshop recordings
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
The National Science Foundation Celebrates its 75th Anniversary on May 10, 2025 nationwide including at Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, CA
Since 1950, the U.S. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has invested in ideas and innovations across all fields of science and engineering. NSF-funded research has driven economic growth and positively impacted countless lives.To celebrate 75 years of research, innovation, and public engagement in STEM, NSF STEM Day will be held on May 10, 2025. This nationwide day of outreach and learning will feature activities and events that highlight NSF-supported research.
Museums, science centers, and research facilities across the country will participate, offering both in-person and virtual events where the public can learn about and engage with science. Many partners will be hosting events this May 10th, including our partners at BSCS Science Learning & Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California featuring the NSF-funded project (Grant No. DRL 2053160) Making Waves with Radio.
Learn more including how to share your NSF stories and impacts
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Planetarium Centennial!
The first planetarium opened to the public on May 7, 1925, when the Deutsches Museum opened in Munich.
Learn more
Rubin Observatory First Look Watch Parties
In mid-2025 the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a mountaintop in Chile, will begin capturing images. First look watch parties will be held around the world in June or July. Learn how you can participate.
Learn more
ViewSpace Image Tours
NASA’s Universe of Learning offers new free interactive ViewSpace Image Tours. This is a new way to explore NASA's stunning space imagery, allowing users to pan, zoom, and uncover key details about astronomical objects ranging from spiral galaxies to star clusters. This is a new feature of ViewSpace which is a free, web-based collection of digital interactives and videos highlighting the latest developments in astronomy and Earth science.
Learn more
NASA Planetary Defenders documentary
New NASA documentary on planetary defense and the people finding, tracking, and understanding asteroids and comets that could pose an impact hazard to Earth. It’s free to show, and there’s a digital toolkit of promotional resources.
Learn more
View the documentary
Bring the Wonder of Astronomy to your Summer Reading Program
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is offering a free Color Our Universe online workshop to support Summer Reading Programs with fun, hands-on astronomy activities on Wednesday, May 21, 6-7:30pm Eastern.
Learn more
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
NEUROSCIENCE NEWS
Ten habits Neurologists wish you would do for your brain health. They include wearing a helmet, wearing earplugs around loud noises, eye care, wearing a mask on smoky days, and more.
NISE Network resources:
• Brain and neuroscience resources
GENETICS NEWS
De-extinction plans for the Woolly Mammoth have been featured on the Daily Show and efforts to re-create the Dire Wolf made it to the cover of Time Magazine this past month. Learn more about the efforts of the private company Collosal’s grand plans.
NISE Network resources:
• Building with Biology: Introduction to Synthetic Biology and Society Video
• Storming the Castle Museum Theater Show
SPACE NEWS
Located on a mountaintop in Chile, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will soon begin to capture the cosmos in exquisite detail. Using the largest camera ever built, Rubin will repeatedly scan the sky for 10 years and create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our Universe.
NISE Network resources:
• Telescope and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
WEATHER NEWS
Scientists have been delving into 200-year-old whaling logs capturing weather data to understand more about extreme weather.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Climate and weather resources
NANOSCALE NEWS
Scientists have created an ultrathin material that could make nanoelectronics more efficient and powerful; research has revealed that niobium phosphide can conduct electricity better than copper in films that are only a few atoms thick.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
A group of scientists have developed a low-cost method to produce carbon-free “green” hydrogen via solar-powered electrolysis of seawater. A happy byproduct of the process? Potable water.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
ENGINEERING NEWS
Only six of the 21 humanoid robots in a recent half-marathon race in Beijing crossed the finish line. None of the robots that successfully finished the course were able to keep up with the speed of the humans.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Engineering and robot 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 2025
- International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ)
- National Science Foundation's 75th anniversary on May 10, 2025
- Planetarium Centennial (Fall 2023 to May 2025)
May
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Month (May)
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May)
- National Bike Month (May) & National Ride A Bike Day (May 4, 2025), &
Bike & Roll to School Day (May 7) - May the Fourth Be With You - Star Wars Day (May 4)
- Black Hole Week (May 5-9, 2025)
- Air Quality Awareness Week (May 5-9, 2025)
- National Children’s Book Week (May 5-11)
- International Day of Planetariums (May 7)
- The first planetarium projector was unveiled in Germany in October 1923 and the first planetarium opened to the public on May 7, 1925, when the Deutsches Museum opened in Munich.
- Centennial of the Planetarium 2023-25
- International Day of Light (May 16)
- National Public Works Week (May 18-24, 2025)
- International Museum Day (May 18)
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 15, 2025)
- Endangered Species Day (May 16, 2025)
- National Paper Airplane Day (May 26)
June
- Pride Month (June)
- 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)
- International Day of Play (June 11)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Summer Solstice (June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere)
- 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
- NASA Space Place seasons resources
- National Selfie Day (June 21)
- National Week of Making (June 17-23)
- International Women in Engineering Day (June 23)
- National Mosquito Control Awareness Week - Fight the Bite (last full week in June)
- American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA)
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) World Health Organization (WHO) resources
- GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit
- GLOBE Observer Mission Mosquito Larvae Hunters Guide
- NISE Network Should We Engineer the Mosquito? forum
- NISE Network health and medicine resources
- NISE Network genetics resources
- Asteroid Day (June 30)
- NISE Network compilation of asteroid, comet, meteor, and meteorite resources
- NISE Network Exploring the Solar System: Asteroid Mining activity
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
- ASTC List of Conferences in the Community
Learn more - Informalscience.org List of Events
Learn more - Association of Children's Museums (ACM) InterActivity, May 14-16, 2025, Albuquerque, NM
Learn more - 2025 Science Events Summit, June 8-10, 2025, Philadelphia, PA
Learn more - National Rural STEM Learning Summit, August 26-29, 2025,
Fort McDowell, AZ
Learn more - ASTC Conference, September 5-8, 2025, San Francisco, CA
Learn more - Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM) Annual Conference, October 28-30, 2025 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Proposals open until June 2
Learn more National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences