NISE Network Blog

Last week's Network-Wide Meeting raised questions about how science museums can engage the public in consideration of societal, environmental, and ethical issues related to nanoscale science and engineering and any emergent technology, and how we as a society and as individuals make decisions that affect the future. Scientists and universities together interact in many ways with the lifecycle of a decision-maker.

Here's an image that I made for the session last Wednesday on Anticipatory Governance.

Of all of the issues facing humanity at the moment, climate change is arguably the biggest. So, could the world’s smallest technology be the answer?

The online application for 2011 NanoDays kits is now live!

The NISE Network renewal is exciting for many reasons – not the least of which is the continuation of NanoDays as the signature public outreach event for nanoscale science and technology. As we move into this second 5-year period, the NISE Net team will continue to develop and distribute high quality, hands-on activities for informal educators and research outreach specialists for public engagement about nano.

Small Steps; Big Impact: A guide for science museum leaders developing partnerships with university based research centers has been published online at risepartnerguide.org.   The online format facilitates visitors in selecting topics of great

Nanotechnology Long-Term Impacts and Research Directions: 2000-2020 went on line yesterday for two weeks of public comment.  This is your chance to read and make suggestions concerning the next decade of nanotechnology research, including future educational efforts and engaging the public in future governance.  The text document and presentations related to them are online at www.wtec.org/nano2.

The NSF today awarded the Museum of Science in Boston the funds to continue the work of the NISE Net into the next decade.  David UckoAt our reverse site visit last July, David Ucko, our NSF program officer for the first five years said that, when they first crafted the solicitation for the original grant that funded NISE Net, he never expected that as much would be accomplished as the NISE Net has done.  It was a glowing tribute to the work of everyone in the Network.

Just about a year ago NISE Net launched an expanded collaboration with the Center for Nanotechnology in Society and you'll hear more about upcoming activities in the months ahead. The conversation started when staff from seven science centers brought cart demos and stage presentations to the S.NET conference in Seattle on Labor Day weekend last year. S.NET is a new professional society for the study of nanoscience and emerging technologies in areas of the social sciences and humanities.

Summer may be drawing to a close, but the NISE Network is already gearing up for NanoDays 2011. While the finishing touches are put on some new activities and kit contents, I’d like to share some of the feedback collected from NanoDays 2010.

Forty years ago the Crab Nebula changed my life and now nanotechnology is doing the same thing, not just for me but for many people in the NISE Net. Here's my story; share yours by leaving it in a comment below.