Laboratory ethnographies have provided valuable insights in the workings of contemporary science and technology and about facts in the making. Nearly all these ethnographic studies have been conducted at nonprofit research institutes. In this article, the authors argue that it is time for science and technology studies (STS) ethnography to direct…

In 2006, we launched the [R]MIT Research Centre (Modification, Intervention Transformation) at the Faculty of Architecture at Delft University of Technology. [R]MIT was founded to respond to the need for an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to the transformation of the built environment. [R]MIT aims to bring momentum to the renewal of…

It is a long and winding road from invention to innovation. Starting from this observation, this paper presents a historical perspective on the capabilities engineers should possess to do their work. The importance of the "communicative competence" involved in creating a social base for innovation is underpinned. We will present a…

Describes and analyzes five years of an attempt to introduce the public understanding of science as a subject in its own right to be taught in The Netherlands. Concludes that in spite of its status as a separate subject, the current vision of the course does not yet have a clear identity that distinguishes it from traditional school science…

The Dutch project on environmental education, which features decision making on environmental issues within its teaching materials, is described. The results of research done on teaching units entitled "Meat" and "Fuel" are outlined. (CW)

Outlines the stages of a research-development cycle based on experiences with a Dutch physics curriculum development project (PLON). Discusses two topics: the legitimation of specific contents of the curricula and the attention to lay ideas on scientific concepts. (Author/YP)

Provides an overview of the Physics and Technology project, which is being conducted by the Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands). Discusses the aims and structure of the project. Describes the development, structure, and content of the five courses developed thus far. Addresses the use and evaluation of courses. (TW)

This selection of the papers presented at a conference includes 6 introductory papers, 32 papers dealing with innovations and experiences in the authors' own countries, and reports from 6 working groups. These working groups addressed the six key topic areas of the conference: (1) relationships between new technologies and labor relations and…

Reports on a study of the effects of the curriculum material used and of teaching behavior in "Information and Computer Literacy," a new course introduced in the Netherlands. Suggests that education can diminish but not entirely eradicate gender-related ideas about computers. Includes statistical and tabular data. (MJP)

Strengthening the innovation system in the Netherlands is a priority for raising productivity growth, which has been relatively weak in recent years. Knowledge creation in the Netherlands is strong -- scientific publications per capita are the sixth highest in the OECD -- but innovation activity is only around the average for OECD countries…

The five papers in this pre-conference reader were intended to stimulate discussion about the impact of technology on society and on education in general, and to provide some insights into the opinions of Dutch and Flemish researchers working in the field. In the first paper, "Information Technology in Education," Tjeerd Plomp addresses…