NISE Network Blog

Partner Highlight: When the Stars Don’t Align for Your Star Party at the Science Museum of Minnesota

March 3, 2020

Christina Leavell, Science Museum of Minnesota

On January 15, 2020 the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) held a Star Watch Party with special guest meteorologist and astronomy educator Mike Lynch . This was not a public event, but a staff and volunteer social hosted by The...

Check Your Box & Missing Items - 2020 Explore Science: Earth and Space Toolkit Part A

February 20, 2020

Ali Jackson, Sciencenter

Check Your Box & Missing Items 2020 Explore Science: Earth and Space Toolkit Part A It has come to our attention that there are a couple of missing items from this year’s toolkit. We are mailing out replacement materials to...

Temperature Mapping hands-on activity picture

Partner Highlight: Grand Re-opening Family Event Blasts Off at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado

February 11, 2020

Becca Manis, Director of Curriculum, Challenger Learning Center of Colorado

After 17 years, the dream to expand the Challenger Learning Center of Colorado to include room for public events and on-site summer camps was finally realized through a revitalized partnership. This past fall, the Center hosted its Grand Re-Opening family open-house event, the first major public event to take place in our newly expanded facility, for almost 900 guests. Staff used activities from the NISE Net's Explore Space toolkits and as well as from fellow Challenger partners.

Hands-on learning activity about daytime and nighttime

Partner Highlight: Bringing Multi-touch Science Learning into the Classroom Through Pre-school Teacher Professional Development

January 31, 2020

Rori Leath, The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology

Throughout the fall and winter, The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology worked with twenty preschool teachers and their students to explore the concepts of Day and Night. The goal with this preschool program is for students to...

Children's Museum of New Hampshire sustainability activity photo

Network Partners Develop Creative Sustainability Programming and Practices for Their Organizations, Visitors, and Communities

January 31, 2020

Nich Weller, Arizona State University

Dozens of NISE Network partners started off the new year in sustainable fashion. Thirty museum professionals finished their participation in the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability in Science and Technology Museums Fellowship program where they learned about sustainability and planned their own sustainability efforts. This was the first of three cohorts in the program designed to help...

Partner Highlight: Arkansas State University hosts STEM Fest as Part of the Arkansas Science Festival

January 29, 2020

Jill Kary, Arkansas State University Museum

In honor of Arkansas Science Festival, seven Arkansas State University (A-State) departments came together to host STEM Fest on October 25, 2019. The event was an explosive hit! More than 700 students in grades K-12 registered to attend this event, an indicator of youth interest, and more than 100 volunteers assisted with STEM hands-on activities, some from NISE Net's Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit.

Partner Highlight: NISE Net Resources Help Undergraduate Researchers at Montana State University

January 29, 2020

Suzi Taylor, Montana State University

When network partner, Suzi Taylor at Montana State University’s (MSU) Science Math Resource Center, was tasked with helping undergraduate students create hands-on activities for a community outreach event, she turned to NISE Net resources for help.

Explore Science: Earth & Space 2020 Physical Toolkit - Part A Shipping to 350 Partners Across the United States!

January 29, 2020

Kayla Berry, Museum of Science

What's New This Year? The National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net) 2020 Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit will ship in two parts this year. Part A of the toolkit will be shipping out to 350 partner institutions nationwide...

Partner Highlight: Ingram Planetarium Explores Integrating NISE Net Kits into Interactive Programs in the Dome

January 3, 2020

Katherine Hunt, Planetarium Manager

This partner highlight will focus on Ingram Planetarium's experience and the process used to fully integrate a NISE Network Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit into the dome theater with the goal of diversifying content, creating more engaging and interactive experiences in the dome for the learner, and to further empower Ingram’s education team to execute interactive programs in the planetarium environment.

Partner Highlight: Through Hardship, Haile Planetarium Continues

January 3, 2020

Christa Speights, Planetarium Director

Haile Planetarium is a 61 seat, 30 foot planetarium that is part of Northern Kentucky University. In recent years, we have had about 10,000 visitors per year. One recent expansion that has helped us grow is the NISE Network's Explore Science: Earth & Space 2019 toolkit. This is helping us get through our largest obstacle yet.