JULY 2022
NETWORK NEWS
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
Webb Space Telescope First Images
The newly released James Webb Space Telescope images are spectacular! You can learn more about these first images including the side-by-side image above of the Southern Ring Nebula at nasa.gov/webbfirstimages
You can find a compilation of resources for engaging the public at: nisenet.org/webb
Join us Tuesday August 2, 2022 at 2pm Eastern for an online workshop to learn more about how you can engage the public in new discoveries.
Learn more and register
New Version of the DIY Sun Science App Available!
From designing a UV detector to tracking solar storms, DIY Sun Science for the iPad and iPhone lets anyone, anywhere investigate the Sun with easy, low-cost, and fun hands-on activities. This popular, free app has now been updated with the addition of two new activities and a complete Spanish translation. PDF versions of hands-on activities are also available for download in both English and Spanish.
Read more
NISE Network Changing Brains Team Members Present at Congressional BRAIN Initiative Briefing on Neuroethics
Jayatri Das (Chief Bioscientist at The Franklin Institute) and Claire Weichselbaum (Barbara Gill Civic Science Fellow at Arizona State University) recently gave an interactive presentation as part of the Congressional BRAIN Initiative Briefing on the importance of neuroethics. The presentation includes a short poll activity giving a taste of some of the content the NISE Network Changing Brains project team is working on.
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 select Tuesdays at 2pm-3pm Eastern. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events
• July 19, 2022
Tools for Engaging Communities and Incorporating Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Practices
In this online workshop, we will explore the Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) tools and resources that the NISE Network and other organizations have to offer, alongside stories of this work from members of the Making Earth & Space Relevant and Inclusive Professional Learning Community.
Learn more and register
• August 2, 2022
Webb Space Telescope First Images - How to Engage Audiences with New Discoveries
The James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) launched in December 2021 and has arrived at its final destination, about 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth. Now that the first full-color images have been shared, what new discoveries can we expect? Join us for this online workshop to learn more about the first images and data captured by Webb. We will be joined by members of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), who will provide information about the images as well as connections to public engagement activities.
Learn more and register
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
NanoDays Activities and Solar Viewing at the 13th Annual NanoDays Event at Highland Road Park Observatory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
For the thirteenth consecutive year at Highland Road Park Observatory in Baton Rouge, LA, big things in the Universe took a backseat to all things tiny!
Dr. Juana Moreno and her colleagues from Louisiana State University Department of Physics & Astronomy returned to the observatory for another public celebration of nanotechnology in spring 2022.
Read more
Vaccine Confidence Resources from The Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California
Staff from the Lawrence Hall of Science worked with public health scientists and community partners to design activities to boost vaccine confidence in families with young children. Some activities were adapted from NISE Network resources, and detailed activity guides and materials are available online from Lawrence hall of Science for educators to adapt and use freely.
Read more and learn about these new activities
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
Looking for an easy way to discover resources on 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
Featured collections
Recorded NISE Network online workshops
View the recordings and resources from recent NISE Net online workshops:
- Earth and Space Resource Roundup - an Overview of All the NISE Network has to Offer (recorded 5/3/2022) View the recording
- Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences (recorded 4/5/2022) View the recording
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Verizon Innovative Learning HQ Institutions Selected
Verizon and NYC MediaLab announced the selected museums and cultural institutions that will develop and offer new immersive educational content available to all educators on the Verizon Innovative Learning HQ portal. Nine institutions were selected including: the Children’s Creativity Museum, San Francisco, CA; Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ; and Providence Children’s Museum, Providence, RI.
Learn more
New Project to Spark Hispanic Communities’ Interest with Earth and Space Science
NASA has selected the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC to lead a project to co-create, distribute, and implement programs and materials to engage Spanish-speaking communities in learning about Earth and space science. The project will also include professional development opportunities and resources nationwide through the NISE Network.
Learn more
NASA GLOBE Observer Challenge: Land Cover in a Changing Climate
You are invited to participate in a data collection challenge July 26 - August 26 to take photos of the landscape around you using the GLOBE Observer App Land Cover tool.
Learn more
NASA Artemis I Resources
Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test taking place in 2022 that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration. Learn how you can participate:
- NASA Artemis I public outreach resources and graphics (Box Folder)
- Artemis I Launch and Splashdown Event Planning Guide
- NISE Network Moon and Artemis resources nisenet.org/moon
Astrobiology Graphic Novel Available for Download
Biosignatures is a new issue in NASA’s Astrobiology graphic novel series. This issue explores what astrobiologists are actually looking for when they search for life.
Learn more
COVID-19 Coronavirus and Vaccine Resources
NISE Network continues to compile resources as the situation continues to evolve:
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY NEWS
In the new movie Jurassic World, the scientists still haven’t learned that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Real-world genetic engineers can learn from the cautionary tale.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
SCIENCE & SOCIETY NEWS
Look Who's Driving! As self-driving cars take to the streets, investigate how they work and how safe they are. After years of anticipation, autonomous vehicles are now being tested on public roads around the world. Watch NOVA “Look Who's Driving” videos on different aspects of self-driving cars.
Read more
NISE Network resources that can be applied to other emerging technologies:
• Nanotechnology and Society Guide
• Nanotechnology and Society Training Materials
CHEMISTRY NEWS
New material offers a remarkable combination of toughness and stretchiness. The new materials fall under the broader category of ionogels, which are polymer networks that contain salts that are liquid at room temperature.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Exploring Materials - Hydrogel activity
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
Chemists harness the power of the sun to upcycle plastic waste. Light, oxygen and a catalyst are used to convert polystyrene plastic into benzoic acid.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
NANOTECHNOLOGY NEWS
New gel used to protect eggs from damage may one day protect human heads.
Humpty Dumpty, the famous egg of nursery rhyme fame, fell off a wall and couldn't be put back together again. But if he'd worn a protective jacket made of gelatin and cornstarch, he could have stayed intact.
Read more
NISE Network resources:
• Exploring Materials - Oobleck activity
EARTH SCIENCE NEWS
Nearly every aspect of our lives is fundamentally tied to the land on which we live. Documenting what is on the land (land cover) is important for many areas of critical science studied by NASA scientists and others, including hazard analysis for floods, fires and landslides, mapping wildlife habitat, and tracking the impacts of climate change.
Read more
NASA resources:
• Globe Observer Land Cover App
NISE Network resources:
• Exploring Earth: Land Cover activity
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
JULY
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- Summer Reading
- Sun and Sand
- Exploring Properties - Heat Transfer activity
- Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping activity
- Nano Ice Cream activity
- Invisible Sunblock activity
- Exploring Products - Nano Sand activity
- Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand activity
- Exploring Products - Sunblock program
- Why are Seashells so Strong? program
- Summer Camp
- Plastic Free July (July)
- Moon Landing - anniversary of Apollo 11 first step on the Moon July 20, 1969 (July 20)
- National Ice Cream Day (July 18)
- World Brain Day (July 22)
AUGUST
- Perseid Meteor Shower (peak is August 12-13, 2022)
The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere.
Asteroid, Comet, Meteor, and Meteorite resources - National Immunization Awareness Month (August)
- National Sand Castle Day (first Saturday of August)
- National Aviation Day (August 19)
- World Mosquito Day (August 20)
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
-
Visitor Studies Association Conference, July 12-14, 2022, Omaha
-
ASTC Conference, September 12-15, 2022, Pittsburgh
-
CAISE InformalScience.org conference calendar
-
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences