NetSciEd: Network Science and Education for the Interconnected World

TL;DR

NetSciEd is an initiative that develops curricula, resources, and outreach programs to introduce network science concepts to K-12 students and the public, fostering understanding of complexity.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive overview of NetSciEd's programs, resources, and international efforts to integrate network science into education at various levels.

Findings

Established educational outreach programs since 2010

Organized symposium series since 2012

Created and translated the Network Literacy booklet into 18 languages

Abstract

This short article presents a summary of the NetSciEd (Network Science and Education) initiative that aims to address the need for curricula, resources, accessible materials, and tools for introducing K-12 students and the general public to the concept of networks, a crucial framework in understanding complexity. NetSciEd activities include (1) the NetSci High educational outreach program (since 2010), which connects high school students and their teachers with regional university research labs and provides them with the opportunity to work on network science research projects; (2) the NetSciEd symposium series (since 2012), which brings network science researchers and educators together to discuss how network science can help and be integrated into formal and informal education; and (3) the Network Literacy: Essential Concepts and Core Ideas booklet (since 2014), which was created collaboratively and subsequently translated into 18 languages by an extensive group of network science researchers and educators worldwide.