Science, technology and mathematics education (STME) have, in recent decades, emerged as lively new research areas. This research, inspired by issues of learning and teaching, has clear uniting themes in the cognitive, pedagogical, historical, philosophical and socio-cultural aspects of the sciences. The epiSTEME conferences occupy a unique position among conferences and bring together researchers in these foundational areas as well as from the domains of science, design and technology and mathematics education. Conference epiSTEME-4 continues this tradition of interdisciplinary exchange.

The name epiSTEME connotes, at one level, a systematic study of knowledge, while as an acronym it suggests a meta-view of science, technology and mathematics education. The previous epiSTEME conferences, held in 2004, 2007 and 2009, have catalysed collaborative programmes among researchers and educational practitioners in India and abroad. Within India, they have helped to initiate and foster linkages between theory, empirical research and the work of grassroots organisations.

Structure of the conference:

Three broad strands of research that impact STME will form the core of epiSTEME- 4. Themes have been identified under each strand to reflect active research topics and areas of interest. Leading scholars will be invited to give overviews of some of the themes within each strand. Paper and poster sessions will complement the review talks. Pre and post conference workshops are being planned, the details of which will be announced later. The strands and themes are presented below.

Strand 1. Historical, philosophical and socio-cultural studies of STM: implications for education
Theme 1: History and Philosophy of STME
Theme 2: Socio-cultural and gender issues in STME
Theme 3: Science and Technology Studies

Strand 2. Cognitive and affective studies of STME
Theme 1: Visuo-spatial thinking
Theme 2: Knowledge representation
Theme 3: Language and learning
Theme 4: Problem solving, learning and reasoning

Strand 3. Curriculum and pedagogical studies in STME
Theme 1: Assessment and evaluation
Theme 2: Role of ICT in teaching-learning
Theme 3: Classroom interaction and discourse
Theme 4: Affective aspects of learning
Theme 5: Professional development of teachers
Theme 6: Educational initiatives and innovations

Review Speakers

David Barlex, Brunel University, UK

Poonam Batra, University of Delhi, India

Susantha Goonatilake, World Academy of Arts & Science, Sri Lanka

Pratibha Jolly, University of Delhi, India

Helen Longino, Stanford University, USA

Nora Newcombe, Temple University, USA

Masakata Ogawa, Tokyo University of Science, Japan

Jonathan Osborne, Stanford University, USA

Mamokgethi Setati, University of South Africa, South Africa

K. Subramaniam, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, India

Call for Submissions

Papers are invited on the themes listed above. Submissions must be made online in the form of full papers of 6-8 pages (maximum of 8 pages including references). Details and a template for submission may be downloaded from the conference webpage.

All submissions go through a double-blind review process. Accepted papers are published in the Proceedings, distributed during the conference and can be downloaded from the conference site (http://www.hbcse.tifr.res.in/episteme). Review talks along with the discussions are documented in a series of volumes called The epiSTEME Reviews.

Dates to remember:
Submission of full paper/poster write-up: April 1, 2010
Notification of acceptance: July 1, 2010
Submission of revised paper: August 1, 2010
Registration with payment: September 1, 2010
Dates of conference: January 5-9, 2011

Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), V. N. Purav Marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai 400 088, India.

Email: episteme4@hbcse.tifr.res.in

Fax: 91-22-2556 6803, 2558 5660,

Tel: 91-22-25580036, 2555 5242

Convener, epiSTEME-4
http://www.hbcse.tifr.res.in/episteme4