It gives us great pleasure to invite you on behalf of our conference organising committee to the 3rd World Conference on Science and Technology Education.

With a welcome reception on Monday evening, 28th June in Tartu we ask you to come and discover a famous Old Town, beautiful nature and a favourable location in Estonia. As with previous World Conferences the 3rd World Conference on Science and Technology Education in the city of Tartu will guarantee you a stay of many impressions. 

The conference theme for WorldSTE2010 is Innovation in Science and Technology Education. As countries move along the path of development, education is a key factor in promoting meaningful progress. Where this factor has been identified with values such as equity, human rights, tolerance or preparations for a knowledge-based society, innovation in science and technology education has been recognised as an essential component for a country’s development.

Innovation in science and technology education needs to have a research base, to be guided by policy makers towards relevant intentions and implemented at the practitioner level in meaningful and rewarding ways. Not only is science and technology education expected to play a crucial role in preparing innovative citizens within each society, but it also needs to play its part at the forefront of educational innovations, promoting these from within a science frame.

The conference will conclude with a closing ceremony on Friday afternoon, 2nd July giving you an opportunity to take a further advantage of your mid-summer visit. The post-conference tours beginning on Saturday, 3rd July 2010 have been organised to introduce you the culture and nature of the beautiful host country. However for those with a more adventurous stay in mind, the tours also offer the opportunity to discover areas stretching beyond Estonian borders- sacrifice only a few hours and enjoy the post-Soviet atmospheres of Riga, Vilnius or Saint-Petersburg, or take a boat ride to the one of the northern capitals of Helsinki or Stockholm.

The ICASE General Assembly, the prior conference event to which all representatives of Science Teacher Associations and other ICASE member organisations are invited, will be held on Monday 28th June.
We look forward to welcome you to WorldSTE2010, the 3rd World Conference on Science and Technology Education!

Miia Rannikmäe
Conference convenor
University of Tartu

Jack Holbrook
ICASE President