The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) has announced its ‘Mimi-Grants Program’ which awards amounts of up to $3000 to engage audiences in nanoscale science, technology, and engineering topics.  You can find out more about this year’s mini-grant program here. (One note, only institutions that are located in the US are eligible and there are other eligibility constraints described in the Program Overview.)

As inspiration here’s a sample of the projects that have been funded in years past  (Note: I have edited these entries),

Princeton University 
Kinesthetic motions activity

Developing an activity relating to the structure of the atom using kinesthetic motions and nanoscale science content to help students “act out the components of the atom.”

Newark Museum
Camp for Girl Scouts

Working with Girl Scouts Hearts of New Jersey to create the “Observation: From Nano to Macro” camp to introduce Girl Scouts in Newark and Jersey City, NJ to careers in STEM. [science, technology, engineering, mathematics]

Da Vinci Science Center
Theater shows

Adapting two NISE Net programs into interactive theatrical presentations to be used on their floor to engage audiences in dialogue about nanoscale science and engineering concepts, as well as discuss societal and environmental implications.

Regional Science & Discovery Center (Corning, New York State)
Adding Nano to programs

Introducing nanotechnology to the public through expansion to three programs: a Boy Scout overnight at Arnot Mall, a Spring break event at Corning Youth Center, and a summer camp for at-risk students at the Science and Discovery Center.

Coming up in the near future is this year’s US National Chemistry Week (NCW), being held from Oct. 21 – 27, 2012. It features a partnership between NISE Net and the American Chemical Society resulting in the theme, Nanotechnology: The Smallest BIG Idea in Science. Here are more details from the National Chemistry Week 2012 page on the NISE Net website,

The American Chemical Society (ACS)  has partnered with the NISE Network to provide online outreach resources for National Chemistry Week 2012 focused on Nanotechnology. NISE Network and ACS educational staff have identified hands-on activities from previous NanoDays kits that can be repurposed for outreach events during National Chemistry Week. Below you will find a description of all relevant activities and a link to the official ACS National Chemistry Week publication featuring NISE net content.

You can also check out the NCW page on the American Chemical Society website,

Long range planners can get ready for Nano Days 2013 (March 30 – April 7) starting Oct. 1, 2012 when applications for physical kits will be made available here.

Finally,

Nano Haiku

Nanobots on Mars!
Dust motes collecting info.
Maybe Someday.

Vrylena Olney of the Museum of Science, Boston shared the above haiku inspired by the article Next Generation of Mars Rovers Could be Smaller than Grains of Sand.

NISE Net’s Sept. 2012 issue  (the source for these scoops and others not noted in this posting) of its NanoBite Newsletter is available here.