Call for Papers

First Announcement and Call for Papers
epiSTEME - 4

Fourth international conference to review research on Science, TEchnology and Mathematics Education

Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR), Mumbai, India, 5-9 January, 2011

Conference epiSTEME-4 is the fourth in a series of biennial conferences aimed at reviewing research world-wide in science, technology and mathematics education. It is being organised by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.

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 conference will include about 10-15 review talks, 40 paper presentations and 40 poster presentations. Additionally, time will be allocated for discussion sessions on STME issues of current importance. Approximately 120 participants are expected. 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 STM

Theme 2: Socio-cultural and Gender Issues in STME

Theme 3: Science and Technology Studies

Theme 1: Visuo-spatial Thinking

Theme 2: Knowledge Representation

Theme 3: Language and Learning

Theme 4: Problem Solving, Learning and Reasoning

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, Royal Asiatic Society, Sri Lanka
Pratibha Jolly, University of Delhi, India
Helen Longino, Stanford University, USA
Nora Newcombe, Temple University, USA
Masakata Ogawa, Tokyo University of Sceince, Japan
Jonathan Osborne, Stanford University, USA
Mamokgethi Setati, University of South Africa, South Africa
K. Subramaniam, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR, 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.

To enable a blind review process, authors' names, contact details and title of the paper must be provided separately, and must not be included in the papers. There are two modes of paper presentation at the Conference: oral and poster. The academic committee will assign accepted papers to one of the two modes of presentation. Authors may indicate their preference for mode of presentation at the time of submission.

Dates to remember:

Submission of full paper/poster write-up: April 15, 2010 May 2, 2010 (extended) Closed
Notification of acceptance: July 1, 2010  July 10, 2010
Submission of revised paper: August 1, 2010  August 10, 2010
Registration with payment: October 15, 2010
Dates of conference: January 5-9, 2011

Participation without paper submission:

Those who wish to participate in the Conference without submitting a paper may fill up a form on the epiSTEME-4 webpage before October 05, 2010. Participation in the conference will be confirmed by October 10, 2010. Applying for participation without paper/poster in now closed.

Venue: 

Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR) is located at the northern end of the island city of Mumbai. Until recently known as Bombay, Mumbai is India's most cosmopolitan city as also its finance and business capital and home of the entertainment industry, popularly known as Bollywood. Mumbai is a vibrant, pulsating metropolis, which affords diverse sightseeing opportunities.

Conference fees:

Conference fees will need to be paid by October 15, 2010. The modalities of payment will be notified on the conference webpage.

Participants from Institutions outside India

Regular: USD 500
Student: USD 200

Participants from Institutions within India

Regular: INR 5000
Student: INR 2000

Conference fees will cover accommodation for 6 nights (January 4-9), food from January 4 (dinner) to January 9 (dinner), conference materials and proceedings.

Partial support for travel may be available to a limited number of participants from India.  Applications for travel support must be made before 1st September, 2010.

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

Convener, epiSTEME-4

Email: episteme4@hbcse.tifr.res.in ; episteme4@gmail.com

Web:  http://www.hbcse.tifr.res.in/episteme4

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

Tel:  91-22-2507 2100, 25580036 (HBCSE)

Tel:  91-22-25072200, 25072225 (epiSTEME 4)

Academic Committee

Hemachandra Pradhan (Chair)
Vijay Singh
Jayashree Ramadas
Sudhakar C. Agarkar
Chitra Natarjan
K. Subramaniam
Savita Ladage
G.. Nagarjuna
Rekha Vartak
Sugra Chunawala (Convenor)


Local Organizing Committee

Jayashree Ramadas
Chitra Natarajan
K. Subramaniam
Madhavi Gaitonde
Sugra Chunawala (Convenor)
Savita Ladage
Aniket Sule
Vijay Lale
Meena Kharatmal