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Newsletter: June 2018


NETWORK NEWS


Online report for your 2018 Explore Science: Earth & Space event due June 15th

Thank you to all our partners who received a 2018 Explore Science: Earth & Space physical toolkit, hosted events, and already submitted your event report. All partners who received a 2018 toolkit are required to complete an online report no later than June 15, 2018. Submit your report here


Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition applications under review

The NISE Network is excited by the number of partners interested in receiving the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Applications are currently undergoing a peer review process by project team members; a total of 50 exhibitions will be awarded. We hope to make exhibition award announcements in July, so stay tuned!


NISE Network's newest Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit recipients to be announced in July

The Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit application is now closed and all eligible applications are currently undergoing a peer review process by project team members. The two-hundred (250) physical kit recipients will be announced in July with kits shipping to partners in September for hosting public events between October and December. Digital kits will also be available for download in September. More about the ChemAttitudes project


UPCOMING EVENTS


Upcoming online workshops: Staying connected to the network and community

NISE Network runs a series of free online workshops to increase the number of professional development opportunities available to our partners, and to create more channels for partners to share their work and learn from each other directly. View full details for upcoming online workshops at http://www.nisenet.org/events.


Be Prepared: Safety Tips and Reminders for Museums Running Public Events, Including National Chemistry Week and Earth and Space Events
Tuesday, June 12, 2018; 11am-12pm Pacific / 2pm-3pm Eastern - Sign up now
Join this discussion to learn more about helpful safety information museum professionals can use in the preparation and implementation of public events, with a focus on chemistry events for the upcoming National Chemistry Week and Earth and space events...read more

Girl Scouts and STEM: New Space Science Badges and Opportunities to Connect with Earth and Space Toolkits
Tuesday, August 21, 2018; 11am-12pm Pacific / 2pm-3pm Eastern - Sign up now
The Girl Scouts have announced a new set of Space Science Daisy, Brownie, and Junior badges that will be released in August 2018. Join us to learn more about the Girl Scouts STEM strategy and their new badges, and how science museums can successfully partner with their local Girl Scout troop...read more


Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) 2018 Annual Conference

Join the NISE Network in Hartford, Connecticut for this year's annual ASTC Conference. The Network will have many activities and professional development opportunities, including hosting a pre-conference intensive workshop, hosting an exhibit booth, a free NISE Network Partner Breakfast, and presenting about Network projects in various conference sessions. Learn more about NISE Net's activities at ASTC and register by June 17th to receive early bird registration rates


FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE


Online Workshop: Museum Community Partnerships - Afterschool Programs: Advocating, Collaborating and Bringing Earth and Space Content to Out-of-school Time (Recorded)
During this online workshop, a presenter from Afterschool Alliance provided insight into the afterschool landscape and opportunities that exist for science museums to partner with local community organizations in bringing STEM content and expertise into afterschool programming. NISE Network partners also shared some of their experiences with afterschool programs and tips they've learned using their Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit activities. View the recording and resources from the 5-22-2018 online workshop

NISE Network resources from recent Association of Children's Museum Conference available for download
Visit http://www.nisenet.org/events/ACM2018 to download slides and handouts from sessions that included NISE Network partners, as well as to catch up on Network news and opportunities shared during the Partner Breakfast.


PARTNER HIGHLIGHT


Discovery Lab makes informal learning accessible with Nano exhibit
By Lynnsey Childress, Tulsa Children's Museum

The Discovery Lab in Tulsa, Oklahoma is getting creative and finding new ways to share their Nano exhibition with their community, making the museum experience more accessible for all families. In March, Discovery Lab launched a traveling exhibit program for Nano in partnership with The Housing Authority of the City of Tulsa, and over the next 18 months, Nano will tour nine family housing community centers with the potential to reach 14,000 children and families. The goal of the Accessible Discovery Program is to increase the access and participation of underserved audiences in informal learning experiences. Through this new traveling exhibit program, the hope to inspire students, helping them build confidence with STEAM concepts, bring families together, encouraging parents to engage with their children in learning and exploring. Read the full Partner Highlight to learn more about Discovery Lab's traveling Nano exhibit program


SCIENCE IN THE NEWS


Laurel or Yanny? There's more than meets the ear
The Franklin Institute's Chief Bioscientist brought together a group of staff to perform the "Yanny or Laurel" experiment and discuss the science behind sound. Watch the video and find out more here 


Earth and Space News

Mars helicopter to fly on NASA's next red planet Rover Mission
The first autonomous helicopter will travel with NASA's Mars 2020 rover mission currently scheduled to launch July 2020, providing a unique opportunity to advance Mars exploration for the future. Read more and watch a short animated technology demonstration


NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will be the first-ever mission to "touch" the Sun. The spacecraft, about the size of a small car, will travel directly into the Sun's atmosphere about 4 million miles from our star's surface. Launch is scheduled for July 31, 2018



Synthetic Biology News

Mandatory GMO labels are coming to your food
Foodmakers will soon be required to disclose when their products contain genetically modified (GMO) ingredients - but those labels may not be as obvious, or as comprehensive, as consumers expected. Read more about mandatory food labels and the open public comment period

Can we make life?
A revolution in gene editing enables scientists to create and edit DNA like never before. But the power to make life comes with deep ethical questions. Watch this edition of PBS Nova Wonders 



Nano News

Nanotechnology and hearing
What we think of as sound consists of pressure waves in the air that when they enter the ear are converted, in part, by tiny nanofibers into electrical signals that eventually travel to the auditory nerves and our brains. Hearing loss can result from various reasons, including damage of the nanofibers. Read more about advances in nanotechnology and potential treament for hearing loss 


COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS


The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) presents a free, online workshop for informal educators "Observing Our Nearest Neighbor, the Moon"
Join the ASP for a two-week online workshop all about the phases of the Moon and how to share the finer details of this familiar phenomenon with audiences of various ages, from pre-K to adult. You will observe the Moon, noting its changing phases, position in the sky, the time of day when you see it, and which features are visible when. Learn more, sign up for this online workshop and get started with observing exercises

A NNOCCI introductory workshop offering at the 2018 ASTC Conference
Sign up for the pre-conference workshop offered by the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) to learn the basics of communicating climate change with public audiences and empower visitors to act on climate issues. Registration is limited; learn more 


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 http://www.nisenet.org/seasons/. Check out upcoming opportunities below.


June

World Oceans Day (June 8)
Astroid Day (June 30)

Sun and Sand - see Seasonal Events
Summer Camps - see Seasonal Events


NASA's Night Sky Network - What's up for June 2018
Learn about astronomical events taking place this month

NASA's Museum Alliance resources - Human Exploration & Operations 2018
This year-long series of monthly topics will focus on extending human presence in the solar system and include outreach materials that can be used in your organization's programs and exhibits. June: Deep Space Exploration System: Exploration Ground Systems


July

Pride in STEM Day (July 5)
World Brain Day (July 22) (more World Brain Day background)


MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES


American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2018 National Meeting & Expo

August 19 - 23, 2018; Boston, MA
Theme: Nanoscience, Nanotechnology & Beyond. Early registration now open



Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual Conference 2018

September 29 - October 2, 2018; Hartford, CT
Early bird registration deadline is June 17. Learn more about ASTC 2018 and register now



American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2019 Annual Meeting

February 14 - 17, 2019; Washington, DC
Theme: Science Transcending Boundaries. Poster submissions open July 16, 2018. Learn more about AAAS 2019