This article is the first in what will become a continuing series of articles highlighting the perspectives of renowned science educators. The first featured article is by Robert Yager, Science Education Center, University of Iowa, USA. Dr. Yager has directed over 100 NSF projects designed to improve K-16 science programs. He has served as president of seven national organizations which promote the visions central to the NSES Standards. His co-authors have studied with him for the past three years and will carry the knowledge they have gained here back with them to their universities in Egypt and Turkey. (Contains 1 figure.)