The Association for Science Education

The Association for Science Education (ASE) is a professional association in the United Kingdom for teachers of science and science technicians.^[1] The association was formed in 1963 and is a member of the UK Science Council.

The Association for Science Education

Abbreviation	ASE
Predecessor	Association of Public School Science Masters Science Masters Association Association of Women Science Teachers
Formation	1900s
Type	Learned society and Professional association
Location	Registered address: 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4BS
Official language	English
Patron	HRH the Princess Royal
President	Prof. Louise Archer
Chair of the Association	Jane Oldham
Chief Executive	Lynn Ladbrook
Website	www.ase.org.uk/home/
Remarks	Motto: Promoting Excellence in Science Teaching and Learning

Aims

The Royal Charter of the Association for Science Education^[2] States,

"The objects and purposes for which The Association is hereby constituted are the promotion of education by the following means:

• by improving the teaching of science and
• by providing an authoritative medium through which opinions of teachers of science may be expressed on educational matters and
• by affording means of communication among all persons and bodies of persons concerned with the teaching of science in particular and with education in general."

History

The ASE formed in 1963 by the merger of the Science Masters Association and the Association of Women Science Teachers. The Association for Science Education can trace its origins back to 1900. The first Annual Meeting was held in January 1901 which then led to the formation of the Association of Public School Science Masters. Incorporated by Royal Charter in October 2004, the ASE operates as a Registered Charity.^[3] The history of the ASE can be found in two publications: Interpreters of Science^[4] by David Layton and, published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the association, Advancing Science Education: the first fifty years of the Association for Science Education,^[5] Edited by Edgar Jenkins and Valerie Wood-Robinson.

The Patron of the Association is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, PC, KT, GBE, FRS.

Activities

The Association promotes improvements in science education and education in general, specifically through advice and support for teachers, technicians and others with meetings and conferences, journals and resources, curriculum and professional development programmes and contributions to research and policy debates.

Journals

The ASE produces four journals which not only keep members up to date with developments in science education but also provide ideas and tips for the delivery of science education. Their journals include:

• Primary Science (previously: Primary Science Review) - aimed at the primary sector, giving ideas for lessons and developments in primary science education.^[6]
• School Science Review - SSR is the ASE's academically peer-reviewed journal supporting 11-19 science education, to provide CPD for both readers and contributors and share research and expertise across the ASE community and wider science education network.^[7]
• Science Teacher Education Online Hub - aimed at providers of initial teacher training and aims to inform and contribute to the development of science teacher education in all phases of education.^[8]
• Journal of Emergent Science - supported by the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT). JES focuses on research and the implications of research for practice and provision of science (including health, technology and engineering) for young children from birth to 11 years of age.

Annual Conference

The annual conference attracts over 2000 delegates and include 250+ talks and workshops ranging from academic lectures and exhibitions, to a social programme and themed days.

Governance

An elected Education Group governs and controls the affairs of the Association. The Education Group advises the Trustees on all aspects of science education. Its 30 members represent all sectors of the science education community and speaks authoritatively on behalf of the Association. The group is led by the Chair of the Association and meets 3 times a year. The Chair of the Association is elected by the membership and serves a term of one year.

The Trustee Body has responsibility for ensuring that ASE works properly as a charity, that the finances are properly regulated and monitored and the appropriate policies are in place. The trustees meets 3 times a year and consists of 11 member trustees.

List of presidents and association chairs from 1963–2020

Year	Presidents	Association Chair
2020	Sir Professor John Holman	Professor Janice Griffiths
2019	Sir Professor John Holman	Mary Whitehouse
2018	Professor Danielle George	Linda Needham
2017	Professor Danielle George	Chris Colclough
2016	Professor Danielle George	Ms Corinne Stevenson
2015	Sir David Bell	Ms Christine Harrison
2014	Professor Alice Roberts	Mr Pete Robinson
2013	Professor Martin Rees, Lord Rees of Ludlow	Mrs Liz Lawrence
2012	Professor Robin Millar	Mrs Lynne Horton
2011	Professor Steve Jones	Mr Richard Needham
2010	Sir Alan Jones	Mr Manoj Chitnavis
2009	Professor Wynne Harlen	Ms Carolyn Yates
2008	Professor Micheal Earwicker	Mr Graham Kingsley
2007	Professor Dame Julia Higgins	Ms Charlotte Clarke
2006	Sir Gareth Roberts	Mr Bob Kibble
2005	Sir Mike Tomlinson	Mr David Bevan
2004	Sir Peter Williams	Dr Susan Burr
2003	Dr Gill Samuels	Ms Sue Flanagan
2002	Lord Jenkin of Roding	Mr Ian Galloway
2001	Professor Patrick Dowling	Dr Derek Bell
2000	Professor Susan Greenfield	Mrs Rebecca Edwards
1999	Sir John Horlock	Miss Rosemary Feasey
1998	Mr David Brown	Mr Roger McCune
1997	Sir Brian Follett	Mrs Mary Ratcliffe
1996	Sir Neil Cossons	Mrs Jane Wheatley
1995	Dr Bridget Ogilvie	Mr David Standley
1994	Dr David Giachardi	Mr Philip Ramsden
1993	Professor Roger Blin-Stoyle [de]	Miss Maggie Hannon
1992	Sir John Mason	Dr Boyd Gunnell
1991	Professor Hans Kornberg	Mrs Elizabeth Preston
1990	Sir Dick Morris CBE	Mr E.O. James
1989	Sir Walter Bodmer FRS	Mr E.O. James (acting)
1988	Baroness Platt of Writtle CBE	Mr Graham Hill
1987	Lord Marshall of Goring CBE FRS	Miss Angela Dixon
1986	Professor Paul Black OBE KSG	Mr John Nellist
1985	Sir George Porter FRS	Mr Geoff Barraclough
1984	Sir James Hamilton KCB MBE	Mr P.J. Scott
1983	Sir Robert Clayton CBE FEng	Miss Ruth Schofield
1982	Sir Hermann Bondi KCB FRS	Mr Maurice Savory
1981	Sir Denis Rooke CBE FRS FEng	Mr Jeff Thompson
1980	Sir Norman Lindop	Mr John Healey
1979	Mr Norman Booth	Mr A.R. Hall
1978	Mr Norman Booth	Mr Dick West
1977	Sir Alastair Pilkington FRS	Mr J.L. Lewis
1976	Professor J.F. Kerr	W.J. Kirkham
1975	Lord Bullock	A.A. Bishop
1974	Sir Derman Christopherson OBE FRS	Mrs J Glover
1973	Lord Boyle of Handsworth	W.F. Archenhold
1972	Mrs M K McQuillan	E.G. Breeze
1971	Dr J.L. Cottrell	B.G. Atwood
1970	Professor E R Laithwaite	Helen Ward
1969	Mr J.D. Rose FRS	E.H. Coulson
1968	Professor Sir Ronald Nyholm FRS	F.C. Brown
1967	Professor Sir Ronald Nyholm FRS	J J Bryant
1966	Lord F S Dainton	H F Broad
1965	Sir John Cockcroft	R H Dyball
1964	Sir Patrick Linstead	Miss F M Eastwood
1963	Sir Robert Aitken

Awards

The ASE is involved with many awards including:

• Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach)
• Registered Scientist
• Registered Science Technician

See also

• Glossary of areas of mathematics
• Glossary of astronomy
• Glossary of biology
• Glossary of chemistry
• Glossary of engineering
• Glossary of physics