University Librarian Selected to Participate in NISE Workshop

News item published on: 2014-11-13 09:42:22

Tracy Englert, reference librarian for science and technology at The University of Southern Mississippi University Libraries, has been selected to participate in the "Implementing the Sharing Science Workshop and Practicum” sponsored by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE). This immersive workshop will be held November 14-16, 2014, at the Museum of Science in Boston in November.

“I am excited about this opportunity to provide a professional development program to nanoscale and materials science researchers at Southern Miss that will cultivate their science communication and pubic engagement skills. This program will expand upon existing University Libraries education outreach partnerships such as the Cook Library science café series. By partnering with University Libraries, the content expertise of the faculty researchers can be leveraged with the engagement expertise of University Libraries to deliver effective and rewarding informal educational outreach experiences to broader audiences,” said Englert.

Englert is one of seven chosen to participate in this workshop. The workshop will provide information and resources on planning and hosting a Sharing Science Workshop & Practicum (SSW&P) for Southern Miss nanoscale and materials science researchers that will enhance their science communication skills, engage their interest in education and outreach and prepare them for providing effective and rewarding outreach experiences. Englert will also observe how the SSW&P is implemented at the Museum of Science in Boston with graduate students from local research center partners such as MIT and Harvard. She plans to implement an SSW&P workshop at Southern Miss in early 2015.

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. The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network is a major National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative. The NSF has formed a national infrastructure that links science museums and other informal science education organizations with nanoscale science and engineering research organizations to foster public awareness, engagement and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering and technology.

If you are interested in participating in the Sharing Science Workshop and Practicum (SSW&P), contact Tracy Englert at or 601.266.6396. To find out more about the NISE Network, visit http://www.nisenet.org/.