An Overview of the NISE Network

An Overview of the NISE Network

www.nisenet.org

Presentation

Overview• NISE Network• Network Community• Educational Products• Get More Involved

NISENetwork

Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network

The NISE Net is a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.

Funding

Years 1-5: (2005-2010)

• Building the network

Years 6-10: (2010-2015)

• Engaging the public through the network

What is Nano?

Nano is:

• Small: 1 billion nanometers in a meter

• Different properties at this scale

Manipulating matter in different ways can lead to exciting breakthroughs in:

• Medicine

• Computing

• Energy

• Materials technologies

NISE Network: Goals

Network community: increase capacity in the field

• Support partners in engaging the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology

• Form partnerships among Informal Science Education institutions (ISEs) and research centers

Educational products: engage the public

• Develop and distribute educational products

• Raise public awareness and understanding of nano

NISE Network: Strategy

NISE Network

•ISE organizations

•Research centers

Network community• partnerships• practices and knowledge • resources and materials• workshops and training

Educational products• programs• exhibits• media• tools and guides

Inputs Outputs Outcomes

Increase capacity in the field to engage the public in nano

Engage the public, increasing awareness and understanding of nano

NetworkCommunity

Network Community

Network Community: Structure

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Lawrence Hall of Science

Sciencenter

Science Museum of Minnesota

Children’s Museum of Houston

The Franklin Institute

Museum of Life and Science

INTERNATIONAL

CHILDREN’S MUSEUMSChildren’s Museum of Houston


Network Community: Role of Regional Hubs

• Share NISE Network resources with partners

• Support the infusion of nano content into partner museum institutions—increasing public impact

• Encourage further involvement in the network

• Connect informal science educators and local researchers

Network Community: Strategy

Nano-Infused Partners

Tier 2~100

Broad Reach Partners

Tier 3 >300

ProfessionalDevelopment

Network Community:Professional Impacts Pyramid

more intense, greater impact

fundedpartners

NanoDays presenters,online workshop attendees,

conference session attendees,nisenet.org users,

NanoBite newsletter recipients

less intense, lesser impact

Tier 1: 14 organizations 100 people active at a time

Tier 2: 100 organizations 300 people active at a time

intensiveworkshops &

network wide meetingparticipants

Tier 3: many organizations 5,000 people by year 10

Network Community: Professional Development

• Regional meetings (alternating years)

• Network wide meetings (alternating years)

• National & pre-conference workshops (1-2/yr)

• Online workshops (1-2/yr)

• Online catalog of tools, guides, and resources

• Science communication and inquiry training for scientists and college students

EducationalProducts

Educational Products Strategy: Public Outreach Pyramid

shorter, less intenseexperiences

longer, more intenseexperiences

forums,summercamps

cart demos,presentations

tabletop exhibits, exhibits, NanoDays events

partner products(DragonflyTV, NOVA Making Stuff)

NISE Net public web portal page,videos on YouTube

thousands

millions

tens of millions

Educational Products: Programs

• Public programs (demonstrations presentations, videos)• Group programs (after school, school group, camps)• Adult programs (science cafes, media)• Training resources, tools, and guides for professional audiences

Educational Products: Exhibits

• Exhibits on display at OMSI, Museum of Science, and Arkansas Discovery Network

• Mini-exhibition under development, copies will be distributed in 2012-13

Educational Products: NanoDays

• 200 physical kits, 470,000 visitors in 2010, 2011

• 225 physical kits for 2012

• Physical kit application: October

• Materials available January

Educational Products: Website

• www.nisenet.org for professionals

• www.whatisnano.org for the public

Professional site:

• Catalog of educational products

• New links to external products

• News and events

• Member directory

• Social networking links

Educational Products: Website

Catalog > 200 products• Programs• Exhibits• Media• Tools and guides• Evaluation reports

Public EngagementGoals Awareness and Understanding

Content Map: 4 Big Ideas

1. Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

1. Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.

1. Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren’t possible before.

1. Nanotechnologies have costs, risks, and benefits that affect our lives in ways we cannot always predict.

Public Engagement: Inclusive Audiences

• Define audiences and learning strategies

• Universal design

• Spanish language translations

• Resources for professionals

Get More Involved

How to Get More Involved

1. Get in touch with your regional hub leader

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry


Sciencenter

Science Museum of Minnesota

Children’s Museum of Houston

The Franklin Institute

Museum of Life and Science

INTERNATIONAL

CHILDREN’S MUSEUMSChildren’s Museum of Houston



2. Use the Website networking tools

• Update your profile on the website: www.nisenet.org/faq

• Sign up for the monthly NanoBite newsletter

• Connect with people in your region

• Join our social networking sites:


3. Host a NanoDays Event: March 24-April 1, 2012

•October: physical kit applications available

•January: digital kit materials available online

•Continue to use your NanoDays materials throughoutthe year


4. Participate in a professional development

opportunity:

• Online workshops (2 per year)

• Future years: regional workshops

• Future years: more national workshops


5. Try something new:

• Lots of different program formats and content in the Catalog

• Mini-Grants beginning in 2012 to help you to integrate nano educational programming into your existing offerings

• Collaborations between universities and museums


6. Help us help you

• Talk to us! We listen and respond to your feedback and needs

THANK YOU!To all our partners - we could not do this work without you!

This presentation is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0940143.Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Documents

An Overview of the NISE Network