The NISENet’s (Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network) October 2015 issue of its The Nano Bite newsletter notes that the organization’s executive director, Larry Bell, has been acknowledged with an award,

→ NISE Network Director and Partner Awarded ASTC 2015 Leading Edge Award for Leadership in the Field (Nonexecutive Leadership)
The Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards are presented annually to ASTC [Association of Science and Technology Centers] members and/or their employees in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments in Visitor Experience, Business Practice, and Leadership in the Field that not only enhance the performance of their own institutions but also significantly advance the mission of science centers and museums. This year’s 10-member jury of professionals has recognized that Larry Bell’s leadership has impacted the ways in which visitors engage with science across the science center field, and that his tireless, forward-thinking leadership has nurtured growth and collaboration in the field like never before. Marilyn Johnson, our long-term NISE Net collaborator, from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) was also awarded an ASTC Leading Edge Award. If you’re attending the ASTC Conference, award recipients will receive Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards on Monday, October 19th [2015 in Montréal, Canada]. Please join us in this celebration!

Next up, a public engagement case study,which has already taken place but this item also is also announcing a new science engagement initiative, Trellis,

→ Public Engagement at Science Museums: Building with Biology Case Study

Wednesday, October 14, 2015
3:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern

To participate in this discussion, please email Elana Kimbrell (ekimbrel@aaas.org)

Please join Ali Jackson from the Sciencenter, Ithaca and Eric Havel from Chabot Space and Science Center for a live online (text-based) discussion. They will discuss how and why museums incorporate public engagement with science. Both of their institutions are partners in Building with Biology, a project with 12 teams of synthetic biology scientists and informal science education (ISE) practitioners who co-developed engagement activities about the science and societal implications of synthetic biology – a field that is looking for input from public audiences. Ali and Eric will discuss the opportunities and challenges of being part of this project and of implementing public engagement in museum settings more generally. This discussion will take place in a comment thread on Trellis (more information about Trellis below). Even if you can’t join during the live chat period, you can add your comments to the discussion thread afterward.

AAAS [American Association for the Advancement of Science] is in the beta phase of launching an online platform for scientific communication called Trellis. [emphasis mine] The AAAS Center for Public Engagement with Science is using the platform to foster an online community for public engagement professionals – scientists, those researching public engagement, and the practitioners who translate public engagement research into practice. The AAAS team is experimenting with ways to foster community across the many fields and interests that work on public engagement with science. You’re invited to join the public engagement group on Trellis to participate in the conversation and share your ideas, thoughts, questions, and suggestions for the field of public engagement.

You can find Trellis here.

Finally, nanotechnology-themed Hallowe’en activities,

Halloween (October 31st)

• Nano Dreams and Nano Nightmares puppetry play
• Attack of the nanoscientist stage presentation
• Intro to Nano video for costume ideas
• What’s Nano About Chocolate? video
• Exploring Fabrication – Gummy Capsules (NanoDays 12, 13) short activity
• Sweet Self-Assembly long activity

You can find the full October 2015 issue of the Nano Bite here.