OCTOBER 2023
NETWORK NEWS
ASTC Conference
If you are attending the ASTC Conference October 7-10th, we hope to connect with you in person in Charlotte!
Please join us for:
• Networking Happy Hour,
Friday, October 6th, 7:30pm
• Booth (#801) Saturday & Sunday October 7th & 8th
• Many NISE Network project-related sessions
See all the details at nisenet.org/astc2023
Build a Human Habitat on Mars Exhibit
Summative Evaluation Findings
Build a Human Habitat on Mars is a hands-on exhibit designed to inspire, engage, and educate the next generation of explorers about human exploration on Mars. Designed as an addition to the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition, 52 copies of this exhibit are now located throughout the United States. A summative evaluation study examined public audience impacts and behaviors including examining how the exhibit fosters 21st Century Skills.
Learn more
UPCOMING EVENTS
Solar Eclipse
Saturday, October 14, 2023
It's almost here! Are you ready for the Solar Eclipse next Saturday, October 14th? During an annular solar eclipse the Moon covers the Sun, but because the Moon is farther from Earth than average, it appears smaller and doesn’t cover the Sun completely Those located on the path of annularity will see a “ring of fire," but people throughout North America will be able to see a partial eclipse.
nisenet.org/solareclipse
• Compilation of resources: nisenet.org/solareclipse
• Slideshow: nisenet.org/solareclipseslides
• Online workshop recording (recorded 9/12)
• DIY Sun Science app
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
Museum & Library Partnership – Community Engagement and Professional Development to Prepare for the Upcoming Solar Eclipses in the Finger Lakes of New York
In preparation for the October 2023 annular solar eclipse and the April 2024 total solar eclipse the Sciencenter in Ithaca, NY partnered with the Finger Lakes Library System to create eclipse kits for all the libraries within the system. We had been working with libraries within our county for some time – supporting programming and STEM engagement throughout the pandemic. We were able to co-create (and test) a lot of different types of programming with each library to see what best worked to engage the local community.
Learn more
It's Alive! EXTREME Frankenstuffs - An Adapted Program from the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC
Educators at the Museum of Life and Science (MLS) in Durham, NC have a great adaptation that combines two NISE Network activity favorites, and it's just in time for Halloween! EXTREME Frankenstuffs is a variation on the NISE Network's Explore Science: Earth and Space Toolkit activity Exploring the Universe: Imagining Life.
Learn more
Celebrating 45 Years of Nanoscale Research at the Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility
Each year more than 1,000 scientists, engineers and technologists from around the world use Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility's (CNF) state-of-the-art instrumentation with the assistance of highly trained and creative specialists and staff. The ongoing partnership between this flagship facility and the Sciencenter in Ithaca, NY has been incredibly valuable with activities and the return of the Nano exhibition this year.
Learn more
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
October STEM Events!
Find fun hands-on STEM activities and resources to incorporate into your October annual events!
• National Nanotechnology Day
• National Chemistry Week resources
• Halloween resources
Meteorites and Asteroids
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx successfully returned to Earth on September 24, 2023 with material from asteroid Bennu! The Psyche mission to a metal asteroid launch window opens in October 2023, and the Lucy spacecraft will encounter its first target November 1, 2023.
nisenet.org/asteroids
Solar eclipse resources
Two major solar eclipses are coming to North America on Saturday, October 14, 2023 and Monday, April 8, 2024. Even if you are not located on the path of totality, people throughout North America will be able to see a partial eclipse.
nisenet.org/solareclipse
Recorded NISE Network online workshops
View the recordings and resources from past NISE Net online workshops:
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
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Nanotechnology Day,
This year the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) community will celebrate its 20th anniversary. This is a great opportunity to engage your local community with NanoDays activities during National Chemistry Week, National Nanotechnology Day, and Halloween events.
Learn more
Are you ready for Cambio?
Cambio–meaning "change"–aims to advance equity in museums through a yearlong, NSF-funded professional development program. Apply for this funded year-long professional development program by November 1.
Learn more
International Observe the Moon Night
On October 21, 2023 everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon.
Learn more
NISE Network Moon resources
ASTC Cultivating Community Science Stipends
Stipends to support established teams of science center/museum and community-based partners in using community science approaches to make demonstrable progress on community priorities. Applications due December 4, 2023.
Learn more
A Million Miles Away Film Viewing Guide
The new film "A Million Miles Away" chronicles the inspiring story of José Hernandez from migrant farmworker to astronaut. The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) has developed a companion educational STEM viewing guide to support families and educators.
Learn more
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
CHEMISTRY & SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
The Danish company that manufactures Lego has said it is more committed than ever to making its products and business more sustainable. This follows setbacks developing more sustainable plastics to replace its Lego pieces that are still almost entirely made from oil-based virgin polymers.
NISE Network resources:
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Kit
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY NEWS
Locally acquired malaria cases in Florida this summer are NOT linked to genetically modified mosquitoes released in Florida despite many false claims on social media claiming a connection.
NISE Network resources:
• Should We Engineer the Mosquito? forum
• Building with Biology activities
SPACE NEWS
After years of anticipation NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission safely delivered a capsule of rocks and dust collected from the asteroid Bennu to Earth. The sample is now safely at the Johnson Space Center to begin study.
NISE Network resources:
NEUROSCIENCE & NANOTECHNOLOGY NEWS
As Elon Musk’s Neuralink gears up for the first clinical trial implanting chips into people’s brains to treat diseases, the United Nations is developing an ethical framework for neurotechnology’s use.
NISE Network resources:
• Brain and Neuroscience resources
RADIO WAVES &
NANOTECHNOLOGY NEWS
Researchers create tiny robots that run on light and radio waves. The robot, named MilliMobile, is about the size of a penny and weighs as much as a raisin. The robots can drive on various surfaces such as concrete or packed soil and carry equipment such as a camera or sensors.
NISE Network resources:
• Engineering and robot resources
• Electromagnetic spectrum resources
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
Does climate change make you sneeze? Allergy season is starting earlier, lasting longer, and becoming more severe – and climate change is largely responsible for these changes. As the world continues to warm, pollen seasons are expected to become more severe, which will impact respiratory health (e.g., allergies, asthma, viral infections).
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
October
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- Campus Sustainability Month (October)
- Walk Bike & Roll to School (October 4)
- World Space Week (October 4-10)
- Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) (October 6)
- National Nano Day (October 9)
- Metric Day (October 10)
- Indigenous Peoples' Day (Second Monday in October) - celebrate people in STEM
- Native American Heritage Month / American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)
- NASA Native American Heritage Month
- NISE Network books, reading, and storytelling resources section on Night Sky Storytelling resources
- Learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and making local connections in the NISE Network Working with STEM Experts guide
- SACNAS – Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
- International Day of the Girl Child (October 11)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) - World AI Week (October 9-13)
- Earth Science Week (October 8-14)
- Solar Eclipse (October 14)
- Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills (October 19)
- National Chemistry Week (October 15-21) and Mole Day (October 23)
- Imagine a Day Without Water (October 19)
- Nuclear Science Week (October 16-20)
- World Origami Days (October 24 - November 11)
- Dark Matter Day (on or around October 31)
- Halloween (October 31)
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
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ASTC Conference, October 7-10 2023, Charlotte, NC
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Association of Children's Museums InterActivity, May 15-17, 2024, Madison, WI
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International Symposium on Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST), April 10-12, 2024, Zacateca, Mexico
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REVISE InformalScience.org conference calendar
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National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences