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In this film "Zoom into a Lotus Leaf," see an up close look at the tiny nanostructures that give the leaf its unique behavior. The Lotus Leaf is a symbol of purity because it appears to be perpetually clean. We...

During this discussion, presenters provide a general introduction to the fast-growing field of biological engineering and describe a NSF-funded project that brings together professionals from the scientific community and informal science educators to create conversations between synthetic biology (or a...

The Multi-Site Public Engagement with Science - Synthetic Biology (MSPES) project, publicly referred to as Building with Biology, was a three year project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that promoted public engagement with science (PES) - a model...

The Nanomedicine Explorer is an interactive, updateable multimedia kiosk and media package, that is also available as a component of the Nanomedicine Exhibition. Visitors can explore a variety of topics and specific research areas in cancer nanomedicine through vivid animations...

In this Building with Biology activity, visitors explore the potential for engineered viruses to deliver beneficial, targeted genetic information to sites throughout the body, and discuss their hopes and concerns regarding this technology. Visitors create a model of the technology...

This 7-minute video was developed as part of the Building with Biology project and is designed to help create conversations in museums among scientists and public audiences about the emerging field of synthetic biology and its societal implications.

What is Nanomedicine? This is the introductory component for the Nanomedicine exhibit package; but the video on it's own is also an informative stand-alone media piece for other uses. The structure includes a text panel and a narrated-and-captioned 2.5 minute...

Scanning Electron Microscope image of the overlapping scales on a Blue Morpho Butterfly wing. • SIZE: Scale bar representes 20 µm. • IMAGING TOOL: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

New tools—like "CRISPR"—are making it possible to edit DNA with great precision. Soon, we will be able to accurately alter targeted sections of the genome of other animals and plants, as well as our own DNA. But should we? In...

This is a framework for a summer camp for campers aged 8 - 10 years. Campers learn about nanoscale science and engineering through hands-on activities. The framework can be delivered in 5 half-day (1.5 – 2 hour) sessions. Alternately, the...

This is a hands-on Building with Biology activity. Visitors learn about the ways synthetic biologists can solve problems through creativity and the engineering process. Visitors are first challenged to design a superhero (by attaching cut-out features to a paper template,...

"Exploring Size - Ball Sorter" is a hands-on activity in which visitors use sieves with different-sized holes, to sort balls by size. They learn that researchers are developing new technologies that can sort nano-sized things, including filters with nano-sized holes.

This welcome letter will introduce you to the Building with Biology kit, walking you through the contents of the physical and digital kits, as well as the basics of museum-scientist collaborations and the reporting/evaluation requirements for recipients of physical kits....

Scanning electron microscope image of the surface of a lotus leaf. • SIZE: Scale bar representes 100 µm • IMAGING TOOL: Table-top Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Mr. O talks about iridescence and Blue Morpho butterflies in another "O Wow" moment at the Children's Museum of Houston.

"Exploring Structures - DNA" is a hands-on activity in which visitors create a necklace of wheat germ DNA. They learn that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures.

This summer Girl Scouts of the USA are releasing a new set of Space Science badges for Daisy, Brownie and Junior girls. Join us to learn more about Girl Scouts’ STEM strategy, their new Space Science badges, and ways science...

This report details formative testing of several Introduction to Nanomedicine prototypes including an early version of Treating Disease. These activities were conducted in February 2007.

In this activity, learners make a voltaic pile, the first kind of battery. The activity is designed to prompt conversation and reflection about responsible innovation, inspired by themes raised in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein.

This is a collection of colorful, printable reference sheets on the basics of synthetic biology and related fields of study. Using illustrations and simple language, the sheets describe the essentials of genes and DNA, traditional agricultural breeding, genetic engineering, and...

In this episode of O Wow Moments with Mr. O from the Children's Museum of Houston, Mr. O compares sunblock containing nanoparticles to ointment.

This "L.I.F.E. Adventure Guide" will guide participants to each of your events three categories of activities (or "L.I.F.E. Divisions"): the Bioengineering Division, the Robotics Division, and the Responsible Innovation Division. For those familiar with other NISE projects, the Adventure Guide...

Scanning electron microscope image of a human hair (black and white). • SIZE: Scale bar representes 10 µm • IMAGING TOOL: Table-top Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

SmallTalk is a podcast series chatting about nanotechnology with leading scientists, thinkers, artists, writers, and visionaries, and look at quirky nanoscience stories in the news. Dr. Stephanie Chasteen, of the Exploratorium’s Teacher Institute, hosted this series in 2007. Podcase Episodes:...

"Invisible Sunblock" is a hands-on activity exploring how nano-scale particles are used in mineral sunblocks to increase their transparency. Visitors compare nano and non-nano sunblocks to a visual representation of the effect of particle size on visibility.