4th International Conference on


Hands-on Science

 

The final extended deadline for submission of abstracts (and full papers) is June 25

 

Conference Details

 

The 4th International Conference on Hands-on Science, HSCI2007, will be held in Ponta Delgada, Azores from July 23 to 27, 2007. In the footsteps of our successful previous conferences HSCI’2004 in Ljubljana and HSCI’2005 in Crete, and HSCI’2006 at the University of Minho in Braga attended by over 600 participants from 43 countries on 5 continents, with 403 different interesting and meaningful presentations, the 2007 Conference will provide the ideal opportunity for presentation and open friendly discussion of all kinds of ideas experiences and works related to Science Education. Open to  contributions in all relevant subjects we will focus, this year, in international cooperation and inclusion in Science Education. The general aim of the Conference is to promote an open broad exchange of experiences on good practices, syllabus and policy matters, social factors and the learning of science, and all other issues related to Science Education and its development…

 

through an enlarged use of hands-on experiments in the classroom

 

…towards a better Science Education….

 

Proposals are invited for oral or poster presentations, workshops and group discussions, Comenius 1 and 2 project proposals, hands-on experiments demonstration sessions and Science Fair booths and exhibitions (all accepted contributions will be published in electronic format and in printed form).

 

Topics

 

 

The Conference will cover the largest variety of topics relevant to Science Education.

 

All fields of Science and Technology are covered: Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Biology, Life Science, Geology, Zoology, Botanic, Ecology, Archeology, Astrophysics, Mathematics, Robotics, Computer Science, Sociology, Health Sciences

 

A few reference topics (other to be added on participants’ suggestion):

 

§         Science education. New challenges, new perspectives, innovative solutions.

§         The role of Science in School’ education.

§         The need for and effective learning of Science and Technology.

§         Science and development. Constraints and perspectives.

§         The access of women to science.

§         Science education for students with special needs.

§         Scientific literacy.

§         Life-long learning of science.

§         Science, citizenship, ethics and social responsibility.

§         Life-long learning, science education and intergenerational dialogue

§         Hands-on Science. Teaching and learning.

§         The school and hands-on learning of Science.

§         Higher education and hands-on active learning of Science.

§         Integrated and interdisciplinary approaches in Science Education.

§         Hands-on active learning of Science.

§         Constructivism.

§         Conceptual Learning of Science.

§         Developing basic investigative skills and the scientific method.

§         Teaching and training language and communication skills, maths and reasoning based on S&T issues.

§         Science and Society.

§         Perceptions of Science: students, school, society.

§         Linking students’ life to Science or “where S&T meets our every day life”.

§         Communicating S&T research.

§         The European dimension in Science Education.

§         World' globalization and international cooperation in Science Education.

§         EU’ diversity in Science education.

§         Science Education and the development of the enlarged European Union.

§         Science education in primary schools.

§         How is Science learned in secondary schools?

§         Science education and technical/vocational studies.

§         Science education at EU' Universities. Needs and requests. The Bologna' constraints.

§         Science fairs and festivals. For motivation and much more…

§         Science Museums and in-school science education. Bridging formal and informal learning of science.

§         The Information Society and Science education

§         School’ Science education and scientific research

§         Environment and sustainable development

§         School’s architecture today

§         Hands-on experiments

§         Reports on in-classroom hands-on experiences

§         Support material for in-school hands-on experiments

§         Computer simulations as complement and inducer of hands-on experiments

§         Multimedia ICT and virtual tools for school’s science education

§         Technologies and Science

§         Science and art.

§         Life and Health Sciences

§         Ethics

§         Life and Health Sciences

§         Collaboration projects and positive cooperation experiences in school’s science education.

 

 Types of communications


Oral presentations
Poster presentations
Remote videoconference

Case study informal presentations
Demonstrations (including experiments, plays, computer simulations, virtual experiments or multimedia material)
Experiments’ presentation at the Science Fair

Workshop communication

 

Oral and poster presentations

Oral presentations may be between 10 and 40 minutes in duration. Presentations using video conference links are possible. We expect that poster presentations will be available for the full duration of the meeting. An abstract of up to 300 words describing the main points and conclusions of the presentation should be provided as soon as possible and no later than May 21, 2007. Electronic submission is available.

Discussion workshops and hands-on experiments demonstrations

Sessions will be scheduled for the discussion of particular topics (such as scientific literacy, women and science, migrants and minorities, science and society, ethics, R&D, life-long learning, science museums and informal learning) presentation and demonstration of experiments (hopefully, also presented in the Science Fair). Proposals for other workshops’ topics are encouraged. A short abstract of no more than 500 words (with affiliation and figures) describing the activity must be submitted by May 28, 2007. Electronic submission is available.

Science fair

Schools, research institutions, commercial companies, science clubs, teams and or groups of students or teachers, and individuals may prepare a booth to present their work at the Conference’ Science Fair. A short abstract of no more than 500 words (two pages including affiliation and figures) describing the activity must be submitted by May 28, 2007. Electronic submission is available.

 

 

Informal discussions are considered of utmost importance.

 

An extensive and diversified social and cultural program will be provided.

 

 

Parallel events

 

    Several major events will run in parallel and will partially overlap:

 

·      Regular  HSCI’2007 conference

·      Socrates/Comenius Contact Seminar “Building Bridges. Towards an improved Science Education”

·      Workshops:

  Joint NYEX/HSCI 2nd Special Session on "School' Science Education and Scientific Research"

  Joint HSCI/On-the-Edge Workshop on "Problems and Opportunities on Ultra-Peripheral Regions"

  Joint HSCI/AMONET, 3rd International Workshop on “The Access of Women to Science”

  3rd International Workshop on “Science literacy and life-long learning”

·      2nd European Science Fair and 3rd School Robotics Festival

·      Tutorials and hands-on training courses for school’ teachers

·      Seminar on "Formal and Informal Science Education of Students with Special Needs"

 

 

Conference Fee

 

Regular fee …………............................................................................................. 150€ (300€ for registrations after June 1st)

Reduced fee for school’ teachers and students...........................................................100€

Reduced fee for school’ teachers and students presenting a communication ..................50€

(These fees may be fully waived, upon early request)

Accompanying person fee …………………………………………………………………..….80€

 

Further conference fee reduction and other financial support (travel, lodging…) may be awarded upon request for works of exceptional quality and significance. All requests should be made as soon as possible before June 1st, 2007.

 

Regular registration includes: lunch and coffee breaks, welcome reception, conference dinner; CDROM and or DVD and paper copy of the conference proceedings; Access to all sessions, workshops and tutorials (subjected to previous registration -email mailto:mfcosta@fisica.uminho.pt after electronic registration-. Limited places available. First come basis).

Reduced fee registration does not include meals, dinner and paper copy of the conference proceedings.

 

A taxa de inscrição será integralmente anulada para professores locais (dos ensinos pre-primário, básico e secundário) que  prescindam de participação no programa social, das refeições e do livro de proceedings (o CD rom será distribuido a todos). A inscrição é, em qualquer caso necessária.

 

 .

Deadlines

 

Abstract’ submission deadline:……………………….…..……...……JUNE 25, 2007

Until June 25 late submissions will be accepted depending on space availability and on the quality of the work submitted (no fee reduction will be awarded after June 1st).

Notification of acceptance: …..  up to 2 week from submission, from May 28, 2007 or in 48 hours for submissions after May 27

 

Deadline (final) for submission of manuscripts: . ………………...…..June 25, 2007

 

 

Language

 

English is the official language of the Conference. Partial support will be given in other languages (French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese) in some workshops and discussion groups.

Abstracts received before the 12th April will also be translated into English, as it will happen with a selection of the best manuscripts submitted.

 

 

Scholarships

 

In the frame of the new Lifelong Learning Program of the European Comission, particularly its Comenius action, there will be scholarships, to participate at the conference, available through your National Agency under the item "Preparatory Visits" or Comenius 2.2.C. Deadlines may vary depending on the country (in Portugal for instance the deadline is May 30).

Em Portugal, Professores ou Educadores (ATLs, CERCIs, Centros de Apoio,...) podem contactar a Agência Nacional em http://alv.addition.pt/ (link directo para informações sobre o pedido de bolsa para participação na conferência: visitas preparatórias; Formulário: aqui- na candidatura deve referir tratar-se de uma conferência organizada por uma rede Comenius 110157-CP-1-2003-1-PT-COMENIUS-C3 Hands-on Science Network; data limite de envio -carimbo de correio- do pedido à Agência Nacional : 30 de Maio)

 

Travel and accommodation

 

The organization and the travel agencies "Top Atlântico" and "Agência Açoreana de Viagens" negotiated a series of packs, flights and hotel at special prices. Please contact Agência de Viagens Top Atlântico Açores: Contact person: Rui Moniz, Director; Phone: +351 296 201 886 Fax: +351 296 287 532; Rua Açoreano Oriental, 16 – 1º 9500-013 Ponta Delgada, Portugal, E-mail: rui.moniz@topatlantico.com; www.topatlantico.pt, www.tadmc.com. You may also reserve through the website  http://www.bensaude.pt/handsonscience/ or contact Agência Açoreana de Viagens; contact person: Margarida Cabral, Director Congress Departament, Agencia Acoreana de Viagens SA, Rua de Lisboa - Edifício Varela, 2º, 9500-216 Ponta Delgada, São Miguel - Açores, Tel. +351 296 301 864, Email: Margarida.Cabral@bensaude.pt.

 

Contacts

 

Inquiries should be addressed to the Conference Chair, Professor Manuel Filipe Costa, Universidade do Minho, Departmento de Física, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal,

Phone: +351253604334/20, Fax: +351253678981, Email: mailto:mfcosta@fisica.uminho.pt or mfcosta.hsci@gmail.com.