In physics, the borderline between pure science and technology is increasingly diffuse. Physics can be seen as technoscience, a merged scientific and technological enterprise. The notion of technoscience has emerged from studies in the philosophy of science and sociology of science, and also seems to arise quite naturally in discussions with…

"Science for All" is a mantra that has guided science education reform and practice for the past 20 years or so. Unfortunately, after 20 years of "Science for All" guided policy, research, professional development, and curricula African Americans continue to participate in the scientific enterprise in numbers that are staggeringly low. What is…

Research on science teaching and learning plays an important role in improving science literacy, a goal called for in the National Science Education Standards (NRC 1996) and supported by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA 2003). NSTA promotes a research agenda that is focused on the goal of enhancing student learning through effective…

This paper discusses the findings of a search for the intellectual tools used by Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) in his chemistry, education, and theology documents. Priestley's enquiring democratic view of knowledge was applicable in all three areas and constitutes a significant part of his lifework. Current epistemological issues in science…

This research study sought to identify prominent features of the nature of science (NOS) embedded in authentic scientific inquiry. Fourteen well-established scientists from different parts of the world, working in experimental or theoretical research, in both traditional fields such as astrophysics and rapidly growing research fields such as…

Feminist standpoint theory has important implications for science education. The paper focuses on difficulties in standpoint theory, mostly regarding the assumptions that different social positions produce different types of knowledge, and that epistemic advantages that women might enjoy are always effective and significant. I conclude that the…

In view of the complex problems of this age, the question of the socio-ethical dimension of science acquires particular importance. We approach this matter from a philosophical and sociological standpoint, looking at such focal concerns as the motivation, purposes and methods of scientific activity, the ambivalence of scientific research and the…

With an eye towards a potential scientific ethics curriculum, this paper examines four contrasting discourses regarding the ethics of using human subjects in science. The first two represent official statements regarding ethics. These include the U.S.'s National Science Education Standards, that identify ethics with a professional code, and the…

Lists the 66 symposia constituting the second half of a forthcoming meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), divided into the following categories: medicine and health, anthropology, technological implications, behavioral science, education, economic and social science, science and public policy, and history and…

Irrationalism is discussed as a studied and articulated attitude, proudly affirmed and elaborately defended. (DF)

Discusses a recent American Association for the Advancement of Science symposium that focused on: infringements of scientific freedom in both foreign countries and the U.S., boundaries of scientific freedom, social and professional responsibilities of scientists, and freedom of science teaching. (MLH)

This volume presents 34 autobiographical chapters from past issues of "Annual Reviews." These essays have been written by scientists active in all areas of research. Some examples are the following: "Musings of an Erstwhile Plant Pathologist" by F.C. Bawden, "Some Personal History and Reflections from the Life of a Biochemist" by John T. Edsall,…

Presents brief summaries of major intellectual movements in contemporary sociology of science: (1) the Mertonian paradigm; (2) the Kuhnian revolution; (3) Marxist and conflict sociologies of science; and (4) the "laboratory life" studies. A second part focuses on the question about the relationship between science and the sociology of…

Discusses the major topics of an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting on the future of science, including university research, nuclear energy, and scientific journals. (MLH)

Personal impressions of the editor of "Science" of a three-week visit to the Peoples Republic of China are presented. (BB)