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Engaging, content-rich events for the public, through the Art of Polymers Concert Series—a collaboration between the performing arts and physical sciences with our partners at Multiverse. Broader Impacts Informal Science Communication Art of Polymers The Art of Polymers concert series has transformed how society engages with polymer science and chemistry, creating unprecedented bridges between cutting-edge research and public understanding through immersive musical experiences. The journey began with the Virtual Premiere of Art of Polymers , celebrating the 100th anniversary of artificial polymers while reaching 971 people through both live and recorded formats. Interactive Presentation Building on this momentum, the Art of Polymers Concert Live at MIT brought together 115 in-person attendees and 187 YouTube viewers for an evening of original classical and electronic compositions interwoven with live science demonstrations. The series gained remarkable visibility through national media coverage. Art of Polymers on WGBH Public Radio extended the concert's reach to over 100,000 listeners, with an additional 9,685 YouTube views amplifying the message. Media recognition was further amplified when Art of Polymers was published in Advanced Science News , introducing the innovative fusion of polymer research and musical composition to an international readership and legitimizing artistic science communication in mainstream scientific media. The Climate HOPE Concert exponentially expanded the series' impact, reaching over 800,000 people through NPR's WBUR Boston broadcast and engaging 300 live attendees. This multimedia performance wove together research on sustainable polymers with coral reef restoration, urban regeneration projects, and space exploration, demonstrating how polymer science connects to society's most pressing environmental challenges. The initiative's continued evolution is embodied in Planning and Delivering a New Art of Polymer Compositions & Performances , which charts an ambitious roadmap extending through 2027. This planning phase has produced new compositions based on cutting-edge research, including pieces on sacrificial bonds that challenge assumptions about material strength. The Earthrise Concerto at the Christa McAuliffe Center, featuring 10^4 Rays of Hope from Art of Polymers as the finale, brought the Art of Polymers message to planetarium audiences, featuring "10^4 Rays of Hope" as the grand finale in a program exploring the "one earth" perspective and collective responsibility for global challenges. Most recently, piloting the new Musical Mechanophores Outreach Kit at the Cambridge Science Festival engaged over 250 participants in hands-on exploration of polymer networks. Using the innovative Multiverse app, participants "played" chemical structures as music before testing physical models with beads, fishing line, and Velcro to discover the counterintuitive principle that weak molecular crosslinkers can create stronger polymer networks. Featured on the Science with Impact Podcast , Prof. David Ibbett was interviewed by NSF MONET's Director of Broader Impacts, Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D. to discuss the the process and future of their collaborations. Together, these initiatives have created a scalable, research-grounded model for science communication that has reached over one million people across live performances, broadcasts, digital platforms, and hands-on outreach. The Art of Polymers series proves that when scientists and artists collaborate authentically, they can transform abstract molecular concepts into experiences that resonate emotionally, intellectually, and culturally—ultimately strengthening society's relationship with scientific innovation and inspiring the next generation of STEAM thinkers. Art of Polymers: Meeting New Audiences Where They Are The Chemistry in the Universe concert at Harvard Science Center used an astronomy-themed gateway (the journey from the Big Bang to macromolecules) to draw an audience that wouldn't typically attend a science lecture. Of the 120 attendees who sold out the June 2026 performance, 30% identified as non-scientists and 28% as artists, while the audience overall reported significantly higher prior concert attendance than science lecture attendance. The format worked. Over 90 minutes of collaborative animation, live musical performance, and dialogue between a NSF MONET scientist and a Center for Astrophysics researcher, attendees experienced a measurable conceptual shift. Before the concert, 44% described polymers using surface-level terms like plastics, rubber, or slime. Afterward, 98% used scientific language: chains, macromolecules, bonds. And 96% of respondents said they wanted to learn more about chemistry. The Art of Polymers demonstrates that when you meet audiences through experiences they already value, the science doesn't just reach them. It stays with them. Chemistry in the Universe: Extending Impact Beyond the Concert Hall The Chemistry in the Universe concert was designed not just as a one-time event, but as a gateway to ongoing engagement. Analytics from the 30-day window following the June 6 performance show that the strategy worked. Before the concert, traffic to the interactive universe experience was minimal. Immediately after, engagement spiked: 56 unique visitors generated 201 pageviews, spending an average of nearly 4 minutes exploring the staged journey from the Big Bang to macromolecules. The digital extension broadened access beyond the Harvard Science Center audience. While most visitors were U.S.-based, traffic also came from China, India, and Mexico, and 64% accessed the experience on mobile devices. Page behavior showed sustained exploration across all four stages of the simulation rather than homepage-only visits. For an informal science communication activity, this pattern is significant: it demonstrates that the concert catalyzed continued learning and transformed a 90-minute performance into an accessible, asynchronous experience that met audiences wherever they were. Chemistry of the Universe: A Reusable Visual Asset for NSF MONET Science with Impact developed a 60-minute concert animation for NSF MONET's Chemistry in the Universe performance at Harvard Science Center. The film spans 17 scenes, tracing the chemical arc of the cosmos from the Big Bang through quarks, atoms, and small molecules to polymerization. There is no spoken script. The science communicates through structure, geometry, and emergence. Built in Unity, the animation combines physics-driven simulation with a pedagogically sequenced timeline. Molecular structures are rendered with explicit geometry and valence-aware components rather than post-hoc visual approximations, supporting scientific fidelity across screenings. A choreography layer generates discovery cues and zoom prompts tied to chemistry-specific educational language, making the invisible visible for audiences across disciplines. The production was designed for longevity: modular scene chapters, deterministic playback controls, and telemetry logging allow future screenings, classroom integration, and remixes. Chemistry of the Universe is both a communication artifact and a replicable technical framework, demonstrating how computational tools can bridge research-grade complexity with public understanding. Previous Next

Undergraduate Researcher Undergraduate Researcher ⬅️ All Members Allison Rattay Undergraduate Researcher Publications Impacts I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title Previous Next National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Broader Impacts NSF MONET expands participation in STEM by:

Learn about MONET's mission, research vision, partner institutions, leadership, and impact areas. NSF MONET is transforming polymer & materials chemistry By developing the knowledge and methods to enable molecular-level, chemical control of polymer network properties for the betterment of humankind. WHY A CENTER? We treat networks as complex chemical systems so that the full power of synthetic, physical, and theoretical chemistry is rationally directed toward overarching challenges in de novo molecular network design. OUR TEAM OUR RESEARCH SOCIETAL IMPACT

Professional development events that leverage NSF MONET resources to provide unique training opportunities. Broader Impacts Higher Education and Professional Development Training Events Previous Next

Alumni Alumni ⬅️ All Members Annika (Alex) Foret Alumni Publications Impacts I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title Previous Next Corning Incorporated

Graduate Student Graduate Student ⬅️ All Members Nicholas (Nick) Fromel Graduate Student Publications Impacts I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title Previous Next Johns Hopkins University

Collaborating with the American Chemical Society, Science Olympiad, Science with Impact and others to bring our messages to the broadest audience possible. Broader Impacts Informal Science Communication Outreach Partners NSF MONET's Outreach Partnerships: Building a National Network for Science Engagement Expanding Reach Through Strategic Partnerships NSF MONET's Outreach Program extends its impact through strategic partnerships with science festivals, museums, professional societies, and educational institutions nationwide. These collaborations enable NSF MONET to reach diverse audiences across multiple states while providing trainees with professional development opportunities in varied settings. Featured Partners American Chemical Society (ACS) Kids Zone Partnership Type: Co-developed outreach kit and evaluation framework Impact Demonstrated: 300 attendees at ACS Kids Zone San Diego 2025 90 participants completed rigorous pre-post assessments 50.9% demonstrated a conceptual shift from sensory to chemical mechanism reasoning Target age group identified: 8-12 years showed the strongest learning gains Partnership Outcomes: Chemistry of Slime kit co-developed specifically for the ACS Kids Zone format Integrated evaluation methodology praised by ACS leadership Social media promotion reaching thousands before the event Model for evidence-based activity assessment at large-scale public events External Validation: "I am impressed with the way you incorporated the evaluation into the activity to provide evidence of kids' ideas changing as a result of doing the activity... I would like us to assess how people interact with each hands-on activity and whether or not it's effective at sharing the messages we want kids and their families to have as a result of doing the activity." — Patricia M. Galvan, Program Manager, Office of Science Outreach, American Chemical Society Future Collaboration: Ongoing partnership for annual Kids Zone events at ACS national meetings Multiverse App Partnership Type: Technology integration for musical mechanophores outreach Innovation: Revolutionary approach connecting molecular structures to music through an interactive app Implementation at Cambridge Science Festival: 250+ participants used QR codes to access the Multiverse app Participants "played" chemical structures as music before physical polymer testing Integrated digital and hands-on experiences for deeper engagement Technology Features: QR code accessibility for immediate engagement Visual molecular building with real-time audio feedback Exploration of bond stability through sound variations Seamless connection between abstract chemistry and sensory experience Partnership Value: Demonstrates how technology partnerships enhance traditional hands-on science outreach with modern, accessible tools Cambridge Science Festival Partnership Type: Multi-year venue partner and pilot testing site Status: Ongoing partnership with Massachusetts Institute of Technology Historical Impact: September 2025: Piloted Musical Mechanophores Kit v.2.0 with 250+ participants September 2025: Piloted Materials Science of Soccer Kit v.2.0 Engaged 7 NSF MONET trainees as volunteer facilitators Collected systematic feedback for kit refinement What Makes This Partnership Valuable: On-campus location at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology High-quality audience engagement (families spent 10-15 minutes per activity) Professional development opportunity for trainees Rigorous evaluation environment for new kit versions Strong community reputation attracting diverse participants Participant Feedback: "I never thought science could be creative like this." — Parent participant at Cambridge Science Festival 2025 2026 Plans: Return engagement scheduled for September 30, 2026 NSF MONET Outreach Tour: National Festival Network Year 5 Partnership Expansion NSF MONET has established partnerships with 11 major science festivals and engagement programs across the United States, strategically positioned near participating MONET institutions. Regional Partnerships by Institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology Region Cambridge Science Festival Location: Cambridge, MA (on campus) Date: September 30, 2026 Status: Confirmed partnership Audience: All ages Website: cambridgesciencefestival.org Duke University Region The North Carolina Science Festival Location: Statewide, 20-minute drive from campus Dates: April 1-30, 2026 Registration Deadline: January 14, 2026 Status: Confirmed partnership Audience: All ages Contact: ncscifest@unc.edu Website: ncsciencefestival.org UNC Science Expo (Part of NC Science Festival) Location: Morehead Planetarium, 20-minute drive from Duke Date: April 4, 2026 Registration Deadline: January 31, 2026 Status: Confirmed partnership Audience: All ages Contact: Erik MacIntosh, Manager of Community Engagement Website: moreheadplanetarium.org/program/expo University of California–San Diego Region San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering Location: San Diego, CA (on campus) Date: March 7, 2026 Registration Deadline: December 12, 2025 Status: Planning in progress Audience: All ages Contact: Julie Lupo, jlupo@biocom.org Website: lovestemsd.org Super STEM Saturday Location: California State University San Marcos, 30-minute drive Date: March 14, 2026 Registration Deadline: February 2, 2026 Status: Confirmed partnership Audience: All ages Contact: superstem@csusm.edu Website: csusm.edu/superstem University of Washington Region Georgetown Steam Plant Science Fair Location: Seattle, WA, 30-minute drive from campus Date: September 5, 2026 Registration Deadline: May 31, 2026 Status: Confirmed partnership Audience: All ages Contact: Debbie Pessein, sciencefair@georgetownsteamplant.org Website: georgetownsteamplant.org/science-fair-2026 Northwestern University Region South Side Science Festival Location: University of Chicago, 1-hour drive from Northwestern Date: October 3, 2026 Registration Deadline: June 30, 2026 Status: Confirmed partnership Audience: All ages Contact: S3F@uchicago.edu Website: southsidescience.event.uchicago.edu Johns Hopkins University Region Maryland Science Center - Engagement Programs Location: Baltimore, MD, 20-minute drive from campus Dates: February 1 - November 30, 2026 (ongoing programs) Status: Confirmed partnership Audience: All ages Website: mdsci.org Suggested Visual: Maryland Science Center building exterior Morehouse College Region Atlanta Science Festival (Exploration Expo/Discovery Day) Location: Atlanta, GA, 20-minute drive from campus Dates: March 7-21, 2026 Registration Deadline: December 10, 2025 Status: Under consideration Audience: All ages Contact: info@scienceatl.org Website: atlantasciencefestival.org Columbia University Region Pint of Science Festival (NYC) Location: New York City, 30-minute drive from campus Dates: May 18-20, 2026 Status: Under consideration Audience: Adults Format: Pub-based science discussions Contact: us@pintofscience.com Website: pintofscience.us/events/nyc University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Region Pint of Science Festival (Urbana-Champaign) Location: Urbana-Champaign, IL, 20-minute drive from campus Dates: May 18-20, 2026 Status: Under consideration Audience: Adults Format: Pub-based science discussions Contact: us@pintofscience.com Website: pintofscience.us/events/urbana-champaign External Kit Distribution Network Beyond festival partnerships, NSF MONET has established an international kit distribution network reaching academic institutions, industry partners, and community organizations. Academic Institution Partners United States: Louisiana State University Georgia Institute of Technology Seattle Pacific University Williams College Monmouth College Trinity Washington University Marshall University California State University International: Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) Industry and Community Partners Boston Scientific Corporate science education initiatives Employee engagement programs United Moroccan American Association (Cleveland, OH) Community-based STEM programming Cultural diversity in science education Impact Statement "NSF MONET's Outreach Kit program has shipped hands-on chemistry kits to institutions and organizations worldwide, fostering global engagement with STEM education. By reaching diverse audiences—from academic institutions to community groups—these kits promote scientific literacy and inclusivity, demonstrating the broad societal impact of accessible science outreach." Partnership Benefits and Impact For Partner Organizations ✓ Access to research-validated, hands-on chemistry activities ✓ Complete facilitator guides and assessment tools ✓ Trained MONET trainee volunteers as activity facilitators ✓ Evidence-based evaluation methodologies ✓ Connection to NSF-funded research center ✓ Professional-quality branded materials For MONET Trainees ✓ Professional development in science communication ✓ Experience facilitating in diverse community settings ✓ Networking opportunities across institutions ✓ Integration with Signature Professional Development Experience (SPDE) ✓ Travel and engagement across multiple states ✓ Contribution to broader impacts goals For Communities ✓ Free, high-quality science engagement experiences ✓ Access to cutting-edge polymer research concepts ✓ Activities designed for diverse age groups and backgrounds ✓ Hands-on learning with measurable outcomes ✓ Connection to university research and researchers Partnership Development Process How Organizations Can Partner with NSF MONET For Festival Organizers: Contact the NSF MONET outreach coordination team Discuss event format, audience, and space requirements Select appropriate outreach kit(s) for the target audience Coordinate trainee volunteer availability Arrange booth space and materials logistics Plan pre-event training for volunteers Implement evaluation and feedback collection Contact Us For Institutions Requesting Kits: Complete the outreach kit request form Demonstrate alignment with NSF MONET's broader impacts mission Commit to implementing activities and collecting feedback Receive a complete kit with facilitator guides Submit post-implementation evaluation data Request a Kit Measurable Partnership Outcomes Festival Engagement Metrics 11 active festival partnerships across 8 states 12+ external kit recipients globally 500+ direct participants documented at partnership events Multiple institutions served near each MONET partner university Quality Indicators Pre-post assessment implementation at major events Rigorous evaluation frameworks (CURIOUS, SDD) Systematic feedback collection from multiple stakeholders Evidence-based kit refinement cycles Professional development documentation for trainees Impact Summary MONET's partnership network demonstrates how research centers can create scalable, sustainable broader impacts through strategic collaboration: ✓ 11 festival partnerships providing diverse engagement venues ✓ 12+ kit distribution partners extending reach globally ✓ 8 states with active partnerships near NSF MONET institutions ✓ Multiple audience types from young children to adults ✓ Evidence-based approaches validated through rigorous evaluation ✓ Professional development opportunities for research trainees ✓ Community impact through free, accessible science experiences NSF MONET's Outreach Partnership Network continues to grow, connecting cutting-edge polymer research with communities nationwide through strategic collaborations that benefit researchers, partner organizations, and the public. Building on this foundation, the NSF MONET Outreach Goes on Tour initiative extended the program's reach across all 14 NSF MONET labs. Running from September 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, it engaged 10,000+ community members through hands-on polymer science activities, using kits like Chemistry of Slime, Musical Mechanophores, and Material Science of Soccer. By providing comprehensive outreach kits that remove logistical barriers, the initiative empowered trainees to translate complex polymer chemistry into accessible, engaging experiences for diverse audiences. This center-scale collaboration demonstrates how coordinated outreach can amplify broader impacts — engaging underrepresented youth and communities while building a more diverse pipeline of future scientists. Cambridge Science Festival Carnival The Cambridge Science Festival has given NSF MONET a platform to engage diverse audiences, showing how hands-on materials science activities can spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. On September 29, 2024, NSF MONET Sparks Scientific Curiosity at Cambridge Science Festival Carnival engaged over 250 visitors, most of them school-aged children between 5 and 18. NSF MONET members from MIT labs showcased the Materials Science of Soccer activity, an outreach kit designed by former NSF MONET member Haley Beech in collaboration with Dr. Vanessa Rosa, letting participants explore the properties of soccer ball materials through interactive experiments. Su Nguyen, a NSF MONET trainee and MIT postdoctoral researcher, reported that participants of all ages, especially children 5 to 12, were highly engaged and intrigued by the many layers of materials underneath a soccer ball. NSF MONET's booth was part of the larger festival, which featured over 100 activity booths and draws more than 30,000 visitors annually. Previous Next

Development of polymer chemistry data tools such as BigSMILES, PolyDAT, and the CRIPT spinoff. Broader Impacts Innovation Data Tools NSF MONET has developed BigSMILES, PolyDAT, and subsequent polymer chemistry data tools as an open-source development project. These tools create innovation advantages for industry, academia, and government lab partners. BigSMILES PolyDAT Noncovalent BigSMILES Previous Next

Research translation and transition efforts resulting in patent filings and new sponsored research endeavors. Broader Impacts Innovation Research Translations NSF MONET partners with Duke's Innovation & Entrepreneurship office to deliver a four-session Technology Commercialization Bootcamp for nine early-career scientists. The program addressed a clear gap: trainees entered with strong research backgrounds but minimal exposure to commercialization frameworks, reporting an average confidence of just 2.7 out of 10 and tool familiarity of 1.5 out of 5. By the final session, those numbers had shifted dramatically. Confidence rose to 6.8, and familiarity with commercialization tools reached 3.6, a 140% increase. The strongest gains came in the areas trainees initially found most foreign. Customer discovery confidence jumped 5.3 points, market segmentation rose 4.4, and market sizing increased 4.3. These were the exact skills participants had identified as barriers: the vocabulary gap between science and business, uncertainty about how to identify market opportunities, and lack of access to industry networks. The bootcamp met trainees where they were, providing hands-on frameworks for jobs-to-be-done interviewing, beachhead market selection, and IP landscape analysis. Participants worked in teams on real NSF MONET technologies, including 3D printing materials, virus-like particle delivery for agriculture, and polymer chemistry data tools. The result: a cohort that moved from theoretical awareness to practical readiness, equipped to translate their research into real-world applications. NSF MONET research is advancing toward translation via numerous pathways: Multiple patent filings and provisional patent applications stemming from Center work, including those involving NSF MONET co-inventors from up to four institutions (JHU, MIT, Duke, UW) on a single invention. Competing for industry-sponsored research innovation awards that fund joint development. Spinning off successful projects into funding mechanisms (including a DOE Center and NSF DMREF award) that allow for a greater emphasis on promising areas of materials development. Funded industrial research projects that extend chemical approaches developed in NSF MONET. REMAT DMR 2323315/6 Previous Next

Broader Impacts NSF MONET strengthens economic competitiveness through:

Alumni Alumni ⬅️ All Members Julian Smith-Jones Alumni Publications Impacts I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title I'm an image title Previous Next C2 Educational Center