The submission of abstracts and a 3 page synopsis is now open.  

The deadline for submission of the abstract and 3 page synopsis is 15 November 2009 (extended until 15 January 2010). 

The deadline is extended until 15 January 2010. 

All papers will undergo a blind review and be rated on a 4 point scale  - 1 poor (not suitable for presentation)  2 inadequate (strong revision required before acceptance), 3 adequate (minor revision needed)  4 excellent (accepted and the full paper will be considered for publication in the post-conference proceedings).

Presentations are invited that relate to the research, policy or practice areas indicated below.

The presentations focus on at least one of FOUR major research areas:
• Research into teaching and learning pertaining to science education
• Research-based curriculum development
• Action research guiding classroom teaching
• Validity of large scale international studies: reliability of assessment measures

The presentations focus on at least one of FOUR major policy areas:
• Interactions between Research and Policy and Policy and Practice: implications for science education
• Interpretation of NOS (Nature of Science) and NSE (Nature of Science Education)
• Issues related to standards, interdisciplinarity, sustainable development, values, student achievement indicators and science education policy
• Networking and partnerships for professional development of teachers

The presentations focus on at least one of FIVE major area of concern for the practice of teaching:
• Enhancing relevance for student needs: context-based teaching: socio-scientific issues
• Competency based curriculum models: the wider science education goals
• Impact of the teaching-learning environment: theoretical teaching constructs
• Student activities: practical (modeling), experimental, ICT related: best practices
• Promoting formative assessment: reviewing assessment practices

Presentation can be of the following types
(a) Oral presentation
(b) Interactive poster presentation
(c)  Multi-paper set
(d) Symposium
(e) Workshop

(a) Oral presentation
This will be made in one of the concurrent sessions and is expected to be no longer than 20 minutes (with 10 minutes question time) Each oral presentation will be chaired by an experienced colleague.  The presentation is expected to relate to one or more of the innovation areas indicated above.

(b) Interactive poster session
This will be presented in the special session on Thursday afternoon. The posters will be sub-divided into innovations related to research, policy and practice. Each presenter will be given a maximum of 5 minutes to present his/her work within the sub-section and this is followed by questions from the audience.

(c) Multi-paper set
These papers are coordinated by a lead person and are related within a theme (such as primary science, research, policy, practice, specific STA) or projects (globe, EC projects). While each presentation will need to meet the submission criteria, the set will be coordinated by the lead person. The thematic presentations within the set may not necessarily be related (other than by the theme) and can be of varying length as determined by the lead person. The presentations within the multi-paper set are expected to last for 2 hours (inclusive of question time).

(d) Symposium
The symposium is similar to the multi-paper set but is expected to relate to one of the conference innovation areas indicated above and is expected to include presentations by person from more than one country.

(e) Workshop
Workshops are expected to involve participants in direct involvement (hands-on, discussion) where the presenter is not limited to 20 minutes. The workshop should illustrate innovation related to one or more of the areas indicated above. Workshops will be held within concurrent sessions or thematic/project sessions as determined by the conference organisers.


All presentations will be reviewed, based on the 3 page synopsis.

Criteria for reviewing presentations

1. The presentation is related to innovation through research, policy or practice. This is a (does/does not) criteria. No presentation will be included which does not relate to innovation.

2. Originality of presentation.

3. For research papers, the additional criteria considered are –
• is the research design appropriate for the study and research questions? Is the methodology clearly described?
• are results clearly indicated? Does the synopsis provide convincing support for the findings?
• are conclusions considered valid? Does the research have well argued implications for policy or practice?

4. For policy papers, the expectations additional criteria are -
• well articulated indication of the policy. Is the policy well founded on research?
• are strong arguments given in support of the innovation?
• Are the implications considered valid? Does the policy have a well argued implication for practice?

5. For papers related to practice, the expected additional criteria are –
• The rationale for the innovative practice is clearly articulated                  
• the methodology for the practice is clearly described
• (where relevant) the findings based on the innovative practice