Nano Bite: August 2010
Welcome to the August Nano Bite, the monthly e-newsletter for the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net).
It's August! Congress is on vacation! Perhaps you are, too. In celebration of August, we have a sun-and-sand themed Nano Bite this month with extra haikus (plus a splash about our upcoming science cafe workshop).
→ Sun
It seems questions about the safety of nanoparticles in sunscreen come up every year around this time. This year, Friends of the Earth posted an article that was critical of nano-particles in sunscreens ("make nano a no-no on your summer vacation!"). Andrew Maynard, the Director of the University of Michigan Risk Science Center (and NISE Net advisor), posted a reply on his blog questioning some of the conclusions Friends of the Earth were drawing from the studies they cited. The Environmental Working Group also has an investigation of nanotechnology and sunscreens that draws some different conclusions, read it here.
Two activities related to sunscreen:
- The NISE Net has an Invisible Sunscreen hands-on activity in our catalog. Visitors explore how nanoscale particles are used in mineral sunblocks to increase their transparency.
- Dragonfly TV's Stained Glass Activity Guide includes an investigation of nano sunscreens
What else?
Science cafes are live events in casual settings like pubs or coffeehouses, where scientists engage the public in conversations about current science topics. From September 13 – 24, the NISE Network will offer a two-week online workshop that will introduce you to science cafes with a nano theme. Discussion will be led by three moderators who have run successful cafe series in their own communities: Amanda Thomas (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), Brad Herring (Museum of Life and Science), and Jen Larese (WGBH).
Enrollment for the workshop opens August 6 and closes on September 3. You can find out more about the science cafe workshop and how to enroll on nisenet.org at http://www.nisenet.org/community/events/online_workshop/how_start_nanoscience_cafe
As some of you may remember, the incentive for the big NISE Network partner survey was a drawing to win free registration to a professional development conference. Two individuals were randomly selected from the 152 respondents who completed the survey:
Erica Segraves, Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library
Manju Prakash, Linden Hall
Congratulations to both Erica and Manju and thanks again to all of you who participated.
Nano Haikus
you act so different now.
Wish you were still big.
by Leigha Horton of the Science Museum of Minnesota. Interested in how teeny-tiny stuff acts different? See the NISE Net's science theater play Nano Dreams and Nano Nightmares and hands-on activity Exploring Properties - Surface Area.
A hot summer day?
Try some fresh nano ice cream
but in large portions.
by Luke Donev of the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, TX. Brad's recipe is posted on the Nano Bite blog here.
Questions? Haikus? Contributions to the newsletter? Contact Vrylena Olney at [email protected]