National Chemistry Week is a community based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This annual event unites ACS local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life.
ACS members and NISE Network partners are encouraged to seek out local partners to carry out National Chemistry Week events. NISE Net is sharing a list of partner institutions that have held NanoDay events as a starting point for all ACS members. NISE Net participants can start their search for partners on the ACS page by following the links below.
Volunteer and Event Coordinator Resources:
- How to get involved (ACS National Chemistry Week website
- Find an National Chemistry Week event in your area
- Event Coordinator resources including: planning tips, promotional materials, and logistical advice (ACS)
- Event logos and graphics
- Reactions: Everyday Chemistry videos and infographics
- List of NISE Network partners who have held NanoDays events
Resources for hosting your chemistry event:
2018 Theme - Outerspace Chemistry Out of This World
focusing on chemistry of air, plants and water in the outerspace
October 21–27, 2018
2017 Theme - Geochemistry Chemistry Rocks!
covering chemistry of rocks
October 22–28, 2017
- Celebrating Chemistry publication and other geochemistry materials
- Celebrating Chemistry publication: Chemistry Rocks in English and Spanish
2016 Theme - Forensics: Solving Mysteries Through Chemistry
Focusing on the chemistry of fibers and forensics
National Chemistry Week 2016 resources:
- Celebrating Chemistry publication: Solving Mysteries Through Chemistry
- more activities and videos on using chemistry to solve mysteries - art forgeries, age dating fingerprints, and more!
2015 Theme: Chemistry Colors Our World
Exploring the chemistry of dyes, pigments, and light
Color and light activities created by the NISE Network :
- Exploring Materials - Liquid Crystals (NanoDays 08, 09, 10) activity
- Exploring Materials - Thin Films (NanoDays 2011 and 2012) activity
- Exploring Structures - Butterfly (NanoDays 2012) activity
- Butterfly Blues video
- Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly video
- Interference Acrylics: Painting with Structural Color activity
- Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals classroom program
- Exploring Properties - UV Bracelets (NanoDays 2013) activity
- Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs): Cart Version activity
- Exploring Properties - Invisibility (NanoDays 13, 14) activity
- Exploring Products - Sunblock (NanoDays 2011 and 2012) activity
- Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech program
- recorded online workshop March 2013 that included a discussion of light at the nanoscale
Resources from ACS:
- National Chemistry Week publication: Celebrating Chemistry 2015: Chemistry Colors our World
2014 Theme: The Sweet Side of Chemistry - Candy
Showcasing the chemistry involved in candy and confections
Candy-related Activities
- Exploring Fabrication - Gummy Capsules (NanoDays 12, 13)
- Sweet Self-Assembly
- Mentos and Soda Explosion
- Exploring Size - Scented Balloons (NanoDays 2010 and 2011) can be related to the candy theme by using scents that smell like candy
- Exploring Properties - Capillary Action (NanoDays 2014) can be related to the candy theme by using candy instead of markers as described here:
- Analyze Candy Using Chromatography activity
Food-related activities:
More Resources:
- National Chemistry Week publication: Celebrating Chemistry 2014: The Sweet Side of Chemistry: Candy
- Online Brown-Bag Workshop, on National Chemistry Week (Recorded)
2013 Theme: Energy: Now and Forever!
Exploring chemistry and energy with a focus on sustainable resources
Energy Activities
- Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem stage program: gives a brief overview of energy sources and our current energy crisis and discusses a variety of ways that nanotechnology can improve the way we harness energy (improving solar cells), distribute energy (carbon nanotube transmission lines) and use energy (nanotech-enhanced LED bulbs). It is primarily a slideshow presentation, designed for medium-to-large audiences. It consists mostly of a lecture, with a few live demonstrations and a few audience interactions.
- Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions? forum: This forum places participants in the role of a governmental funding agency and asks them to consider how nanotechnology should fit into the timeline and scope of future national energy policy. A scientific expert begins the forum by providing a brief intro to nanotechnology and describing some of its potential benefits and possible uncertainties. A short video follows with three expert perspectives who discuss three possible energy funding strategies.
- The Electric Squeeze cart demo: This cart demo is about piezoelectricity - how some crystals produce electricity when you squeeze them. Visitors learn about the history of piezoelectricity, how it's used, and how it's applied in nanotechnology. They make electric sparks, handle models and listen to cheesy music.
More chemistry activities on nisenet.org:
More Resources:
- The official ACS National Chemistry Week 2013 publication: "Celebrating Chemistry" Energy - Now and Forever! (PDF).
2012 Theme: Nanotechnology: The Smallest BIG Idea in Science!
The American Chemical Society (ACS) has partnered with the NISE Network to provide online outreach resources for National Chemistry Week. 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.
Activities
- Hydrogel: A hands-on activity in which visitors discover how a super absorbing material can be used to move a straw.
- Graphene: A hands-on activity in which visitors use tape and graphite to make graphene and test the conductivity of graphite.
- Gummy Capsules: 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.
- Nano Gold: A hands-on activity in which visitors discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.
- Nano Sand: A hands-on activity exploring how water behaves differently when it comes in contact with nano sand and regular sand. Visitors learn about the hydrophobic properties of nano sand.
- Sunblock: Sunblock is a hands-on activity comparing sunblock containing nanoparticles to ointment. Visitors learn how some sunblocks that rub in clear contain nanoparticles that block harmful rays from the sun.
- DNA: A facilitated, hands-on activity exploring deoxyribonucleic acid, a nanoscale structure that occurs in nature. Visitors extract a sample of DNA from split peas and put it in an Eppendorf tube to take home.
Signage
- Promotional sign for National Chemistry Week PDF (matching NanoDays style format)
- Editable National Chemistry Week activity sign Word Doc (in NanoDays style format)
More Resources
- The official ACS National Chemistry Week 2012 publication: "Celebrating Chemistry" Nanotechnology: the Smallest BIG Idea in Science (PDF) with an introduction to nanotechnology, scientist profiles, and activities to try at home; the publication is targeted at children in 4th-6th grade. Other publications and educational resources can be found here (ACS).
- Webinar presentation for National Chemistry Week Coordinators (August 2012)
- PDF of webinar slide presentation by Darrell Porcello, Lawrence Hall of Science about the NISE Network
National Chemistry Week 2012 Coordinator webinar is available here
