The NISE Network is a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Nisenet.org is an online digital library of public nano educational products and tools designed for educators and scientists.

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The new 2015 NanoDays digital kit materials are available for download!
Getting a digital kit is easy - you don't need to fill out an application or log in to download a digital kit.

Digital kits are free, downloadable materials available to anyone. The digital version of the kit is designed particularly for international locations outside the United States, K-12 educators, libraries, and other educational organizations. Many of the activities use inexpensive, readily available supplies.

These short videos are perfect for NanoDays 2015 staff and volunteer training. Please feel free to distribute these links to people volunteering at your NanoDays event. All of these videos may be downloaded from Vimeo simply by creating a free "basic" account at www.vimeo.com/join, for more assistance please see FAQ # 10.

How do you get a science center, technology museum, a national science network, a public library system, a 3D printing service and marketplace, a camera company, and a university research center to work together—you just have to pick up the phone and talk about nanotechnology.

The Science Museum of Minnesota shipped out 250 copies of the NanoDays 2015 physical kits on February 2nd.
If you aren't receiving a physical kit, be sure to check out the NanoDays 2015 digital kit download:

New science, like nano, can be misused, misconstrued, or co-opted by greed. This online brown-bag conversation, Pseudoscience and Nanotechnology, will explore how to identify poor science and will examine how the word 'nanotechnology' has been used to sell a variety of products.

Are you interested in learning more about the science behind the NanoDays activities? Do you want to know more about how the NanoDays activities are related to cutting-edge research? Then please join us for an exciting presentation that will focus on the applications and scientific background behind NISE Net activities related to food and microscopes.

Did you see that book or those digital files about something called Team-Based Inquiry (TBI) in your NanoDays kit? Are you wondering what they are all about? Join us as we talk about Team-Based Inquiry, an evaluation-capacity building process developed by the NISE Network, and discuss a couple of different ways you can think about improving your institution's events, programs, or trainings using TBI!

Are you interested in learning more about the science behind the NanoDays activities? Do you want to know more about how the NanoDays activities are related to cutting-edge research? Watch a recording of this presentation on the applications and scientific background behind NISE Net activities related to graphene and nano-coatings.

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The NISE Network Report to Partners provides an overview of the major activities of the Network and highlights our collective accomplishments related to building collaborations, engaging the public, and increasing the capacity of the field. It also looks ahead to sustaining the Network beyond 2015.

"Exploring Fabrication - Self-Assembly" includes several full-body interactive games visitors can play to model the process of self-assembly in nature and nanotechnology. Visitors learn that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures.

"Snowflakes" is a public presentation that introduces nanoscale science through the subject of snowflakes. Visitors learn that the complex structure of snowflakes results from the nanoscale arrangement of water molecules in an ice crystal, and that snowflakes are examples of self-assembled systems studied by nanoscientists. During the program, visitors watch videos of snowflakes growing and observe real ice crystals growing in a chilled chamber.

In 2014, the Network provided an in-depth professional development training to 20 staff from 10 institutions within the network to fully learn and practice Team-Based Inquiry (TBI). Through this process, individuals learned and practiced TBI, conducted TBI on their mini-grant projects, implemented changes to their mini-grant projects, and wrote reports and presentations on their experience. The videos below are the institutions' presentations to the cohort about their own projects.

This series of museum labels are designed for general use in your museum or institution to highlight existing connections to nanoscale science, engineering, or technology. NISE Net partners are already coming up with creative ways to use these labels to showcase nano. For example, you can make a scavenger hunt or special tour to encourage visitors to find all the connections! Additional templates (.doc and .indd) are also provided so that you can create your own signage and content.

"Exploring Fabrication - Gummy Capsules" lets visitors make self-assembled polymer spheres. They learn that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures, and that self-assembly is used to make nanocapsules that can deliver medication.

In this episode of O Wow Moments with Mr. O from the Children's Museum of Houston, we take a look at the fusion of science and cooking - molecular gastronomy. Find out how to make your own ice cream topping that requires a scientist (namely, you) to create it and how it relates to nanotechnology!

The "Sweet Self-Assembly" program focuses on the creation of macrocapsules using self-assembly techniques. Participants make edible macrocapsules using techniques similar to those being used in laboratories to make nanocapsules or “smart drugs”.