JANUARY 2022
NETWORK NEWS
Year in Review
The year 2021 was challenging for many of us individually, as well as for our organizations and communities. We are so impressed with how NISE Network partners have continued to creatively address ongoing challenges and offered suggestions and assistance to one another during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite all these challenges, NISE Network partners have continued to engage the public nationwide in STEM. Here are some highlights from 2021 and a look forward to 2022 and 2023. Read more
Explore Science: Earth & Space Toolkit Reports due January 15th
NISE Network partners who received a physical Explore Science: Earth & Space 2020 toolkit are required to submit an online report so that we in turn may report to our funders. The report deadline for activities during the January-December 2021 year is January 15, 2022. Online report form through Alchemer
Celebrating 10 years of the Nano Exhibition, Newest Location in Yellow Springs, OH!
Believe it or not, the NISE Network’s Nano exhibition has been around for 10 years! Learn more about how the exhibitions are still reaching new audiences at new locations, including the newest location in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Pictured is the first installation at Port Discovery in Baltimore back in 2011. Read more
UPCOMING EVENTS
Online Workshops
The NISE Network hosts free online workshops as professional development opportunities for our partners to share with and learn from each other. Online workshops take place on Tuesdays at 2pm-3pm Eastern. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
A Few of our Favorite Things at the Kentucky Science Center
Andrew Spence has been in the Education department at the Kentucky Science Center since 2009 and involved with the NISE Network for nearly that long. They held their first NanoDays Science Celebration in April of 2010 and have gone on to receive many more toolkits and both the Nano and the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibitions. Andrew thought it would be fun heading into 2022 to take a look back on the NISE Network materials that have lived on the longest at the Kentucky Science Center and the impact they continue to have on their floor, camps, offsite and Challenger Learning Center program offerings. Read more
Webb Space Telescope Community Events Across the US
James Webb Space Telescope community events have been in full swing across the country this fall! Here are highlights from just a few of the Webb Community Events that have been taking place nationwide over the past few months. Read more
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
Looking for an easy way to browse 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
International Year of Glass
The United Nations has declared 2022 the International Year of Glass. You can find glass activities and resources at: nisenet.org/glass
James Webb Space Telescope resources
You can find James Webb Space Telescope resources here to celebrate the successful launch and look towards the future: nisenet.org/webb
Stay tuned for more information resources for first light images which are expected in the summer of 2022.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Now Discover all Our Near-Earth Object Asteroids and Comets using NASA Eyes
Through NASA’s Eyes on Asteroids visualization tool, you can now explore the asteroids and comets that approach Earth’s orbital neighborhood – and the spacecraft that visit these objects – with a click or a swipe. Learn more
NASA GLOBE Cloud Challenge 2022: Clouds in a Changing Climate, January 15 - February 15, 2022
Did you know that clouds can both warm and cool our planet? Keeping an eye on clouds helps NASA study our climate. The NASA GLOBE Program invites you to take part in the upcoming Cloud Challenge: “Clouds in a Changing Climate.”
- Learn about the ways your audiences can contribute to this citizen science effort
- Related hands-on activity: Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds
2022 Moon Calendar Available for Download
Looking for a Moon phase calendar and calculator to make with your audiences? Download the 2022 Moon phases calendar and calculator! Learn more
COVID-19 Coronavirus and Vaccine Resources
NISE Network continues to compile resources as the situation with the COVID-19 Coronavirus and Vaccines continues to evolve:
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
The NISE Network hosts free online workshops as professional development opportunities for our partners to share with and learn from each other.
Online workshops take place on Tuesdays at
2pm-3pm Eastern
View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events.
February 15, 2022
Increasing Community Resilience to Extreme Weather and Environmental Hazards - The Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities Project Learn more and register
March 1, 2022
Working with STEM Experts - If Only There Was A Guide... Now There Is!
Learn more and register
April 5, 2022
Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences
Learn more and register
May 3, 2022
Earth and Space Resource Roundup - an Overview of All the NISE Network has to Offer
Learn more and register
June 14, 2022
Reconnect and re-engage with the NISE Network 2022 - an overview of projects and time to reconnect
Learn more and register
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
2021 NEWS:
A Look Back at 2021,
How some of 2021’s major science stories evolved over time
Read more
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS:
Visually stunning climate change scenes from the New York Times show how climate change is reshaping our world.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
EARTH AND SPACE NEWS
The big story this month is the successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Read more
NASA resources:
NISE Network resources:
• Webb Space Telescope public engagement resources
NANOTECHNOLOGY NEWS
Micro-robots propelled by air bubbles and ultrasound. Some engineers find inspiration in the mechanics of bird flight and the architecture of bee nests. Others think much smaller. Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Shrinking Robots! stage program
• Is That Robot Real? children's book and poster
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY NEWS
Boxes of genetically modified mosquitoes now available for Brazil.
Brazilians can now order boxes of genetically modified (GM) non-biting Aedes aegypti male mosquito eggs, which are delivered to their homes. They simply add water and wait for the insects to hatch. When the males emerge, they mate with wild Aedes aegypti females, an invasive species of mosquitoes that transmit diseases like Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever through their bites.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Should We Engineer the Mosquito? forum
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS:
A huge kite is dragging cargo ships across the Atlantic Ocean to demonstrate how to reduce shipping fuel consumption.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Energy public engagement resources
CHEMISTRY NEWS:
Environmentally friendly “Jelly Ice Cube” could transform cold storage.
These plastic-free, “jelly ice cubes” do not melt, are compostable and antimicrobial, and prevent cross-contamination.
Read 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: nisenet.org/seasons
JANUARY
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- International Year of Glass (January - December 2022)
- Predictions for the New Year (January 1)
- Snow and Snowflakes
- National Mentoring Month (January)
- National Bird Day (January 5)
Some bird feathers (such as peacock feathers) are iridescent due to nano-sized structures within the feathers; for more about iridescence check out: - National Static Electricity Day (January 9)
FEBRUARY
- Black History Month / African-American History Month (February)
- Groundhog Day (February 2)
- Use Exploring Earth: Bear's Shadow activity to make and experiment with shadows
- STEM topics to explore include: signs of spring (animals emerging from hibernation), signs of winter (clear, cold days), and seasons (February 2 lies midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox)
- NASA Space Place Reasons for Seasons
- World Radio Day (February 13)
- Valentine's Day (February 14)
- National Engineers Week (February 20-26)
- NISE Network engineering and technology activities
- Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (February 24)
- National Battery Day (February 18)
- Great Backyard Bird Count (mid-February)
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
-
Association of Children’s Museums, May 16-18, 2022, Saint Louis
Learn more about NISE Network activities at the conferencee
- Visitor Studies Association Conference, July 12-14, 2022, Omaha
Call for session proposals: Proposals due January 7, 2022
Learn more - ASTC Conference, September 12-15, 2022, Pittsburgh
Call for session proposals: Proposals due January 24, 2022
Learn more - CAISE InformalScience.org conference calendar
Learn more - National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences
Learn more