Internationally renowned and award-winning author John Gilbert has spent the last thirty years researching, thinking and writing about some of the central and enduring issues in science education. He has contributed over twenty books and 400 articles to the field and is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Science Education. For the first time he brings together sixteen of his key writings in one volume.

This unique book highlights important shifts in emphasis in science education research, the influence of important individuals and matters of national and international concern. All this is interwoven in the following four themes:

• explanation, models and modeling in science education


• relating science education and technology education


• informal education in science and technology


• alternative conceptions and science education.