From star systems to social systems, CONASTA 64 connects teachers to researchers and scientists working on the cutting edge of modern science. We asked two CONASTA 64 Keynote speakers, Steven Tingay and Ian Walker to share their passion for their work and their dedication for giving back to the science community.

Australian governments in recent years have invested substantially in innovation and research commercialisation with the aim of enhancing international economic competitiveness, making research findings more readily available to research users, and supporting economic and social development. Although there have been a number of evaluations of…

The globalized nature of modern society has generated a number of pressures that impact internationally on countries' policies and practices of science education. Among these pressures are key issues of health and environment confronting global science, global economic control through multi-national capitalism, comparative and competitive…

The polygraph (lie detector) may be an ideal vehicle for converting aspects of a physiology course into an interdisciplinary course, enabling discussion of interrelationships between science, technology and society (STS) and social dilemmas arising from technological developments. The authors present a way of incorporating the polygraph into a…

This paper reviews a decade of development of technology education at the secondary school level in Australia. It traces the influences, both national and international, which have pressed the nation's education systems to introduce technology studies into the school curriculum. The increasing globalization, the movement of capital and labor, the…

Discussed is a study which triangulates the relationship between the patriarchal system, capitalism, and ecology using ethnomethodology. Relates a feminine idealogical set to general environmental sensibility. (CW)

Environmental education in early childhood education is very effective in shaping positive attitudes toward the environment. Debates whether the school or the community should assume responsibility for environmental education. (DDR)

Illustrates the ways of achieving a measure of political literacy using the case of the bridge link to North Stradbroke Island. Discusses two topics wherein misconceptions occur, what environments are, and the nature of environmental conflict. Provides five figures and two references. (YP)

Dominant academic narratives about "the body" occur within two major camps. The first is derived from "classical social theory", and takes a macroscopic focus. The contrasting perspective is what Sharp ("Extended forms of the social", "Arena Journal", 1, pp. 221-237, 1993) refers to as "post-classical…

Presents a picture of the curriculum at the Pullenvale Field Study Centre. The curriculum is based on a drama theme called "The Settlers," and relates to Year Five Social Studies. Describes the curriculum in its current form and its development. Also considers the cyclic process, involving planning, action, observation, and reflection.…

Describes an activity in which students gather information on a field trip to South Stradbroke Island in Australia and conduct a symposium on whether it would be suitable to build a resort on the island. Students role-play the viewpoints of various special interest groups that would be involved in the controversy. (Author/WRM)

Studies the interviews of 24 professional scientists to seek their views on the long range effects of their initial training. Analyzes the interviews for content, teaching, and types of learning experience. Concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for science education. Argues for a reduction in content. (CW)

Discusses the various ways that environmental education is defined. Emphasizes the influence that environmental education can have on values and behaviors. Describes formal and informal approaches to environmental education, along with some of the problems of programs that exist in both of these realms. (TW)

Discusses a project that was established to integrate computer technology, especially the Internet, into the science classroom. Argues for the importance of providing students with a program of study that exposes them to the widest possible range of ways of gathering information for problem solving. (Author/WRM)

Connotations for the word "environment" have increased to include a wide range of meanings. It has become a political force with candidates of most major parties being very conscious of what is referred to as the "environment vote." In the classroom and society, "environment" is a controversial issue. For example, at…