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
Lawrence Hall of Science
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
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
Lawrence Hall of Science
How to Get More Involved
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:
How to Get More Involved
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
How to Get More Involved
4. Participate in a professional development
opportunity:
• Online workshops (2 per year)
• Future years: regional workshops
• Future years: more national workshops
How to Get More Involved
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
How to Get More Involved
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.