PARSEL: Innovation in Science Education meets Science Education Practice – a look back at the PARSEL conference in Berlin from 1st to 4th March 2009

The International PARSEL Conference – organised by the Department of Chemistry Education at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry of Freie Universität Berlin – took place in Berlin from 1st to 4th March 2009. The conference dedicated to the motto: “Popularity and Relevance of Science Education for Scientific Literacy”, in short PARSEL. PARSEL is also the acronym for the EU funded project, which has now concluded for the time being with this conference.

The PARSEL consortium invited more than 100 colleagues from science education, educational practice and school administration from around Europe and the world to find and discuss new ways and opportunities to promote “popularity of science education” and show the “relevance of science education” in order to improve the development of scientific literacy amongst students.

The conference had five main thematic categories:

In the opening keynote, the introduction, Professor Jack Holbrook (president of ICASE) introduced the suggestions of the PARSEL consortium and showed how the popularity and relevance of science education can be improved.

Further three categories were:

- “innovation and development”,

- “dissemination and implementation” and

- “evaluation”.

Each of these three categories was introduced by a keynote from an internationally renowned member of science or science education. “Innovation” was introduced by Professor Thomas Koballa, Jr. (Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Georgia, USA); “dissemination” was introduced by Professor Franz Rauch (University of Klagenfurt, Austria) and “evaluation” was introduced by Professor Jens Möller (Pedagogical Psychology at the University of Kiel, Germany). These keynote speeches were supported by co-statements of teachers on the one hand and of school administrators on the other. This allowed the topics to be presented from several viewpoints (see conference programme).

Following on, the PARSEL partners together with their collaborating teachers shared their thoughts and experiences concerning “innovation – dissemination – evaluation” in interactive poster presentations. New, innovative materials and methods were also introduced which had been worked with during the PARSEL projects and which had proven to enrich the science lessons.

Furthermore, representatives of other EU projects talked of their experiences in interactive poster sessions as well. The chosen conference format allowed the participants to not only talk with one another during the poster sessions but also during the discussions that followed the poster presentations. Here, differences and similarities could be debated heatedly.

The fifth category, “outlook and review” was introduced by the keynote given by Dr Johannes Klumpers from the European Commission, head of unit Scientific Culture and Gender Issues, on “The philosophy of EU programmes to promote scientific education and international cooperation”. Dr Klumpers informed the participants about the perspectives and central ideas that future European Commission programmes will include to increase scientific education.

Professor Janchai Yingprayoon from Thailand presented his thoughts as external reviewer on the work of the PARSEL project groups. He then praised the activities of both the PARSEL project groups as well as the other projects invited to be presented at the conference.

The official conference programme was complemented by a cultural programme. The participants were welcome to exchange thoughts and ideas, to get to know one another and to think about new projects in informal surroundings. The highlights undoubtedly included the two conference dinners in the club house of Freie Universität Berlin and in the New Greenhouse of the Botanic Gardens Berlin as well as the concert under palm trees in the Palm and Tropical Houses of the Gardens. A particular highlight was the talk given by Professor Klaus Roth, which included several moments in which to ponder, laugh and enjoy. After all, the talk took the listeners on a trip into the world of chocolate, both in a historical and cultural as well as in a scientific experimental sense. Klaus Roth had the participants carry out “self-experiments” to see how to eat chocolate “properly” and make it a pleasure for all senses. It was most definitely a pleasure for all who were there!

More on the conference programme can shortly be found on the homepage of the PARSEL project.

The PARSEL consortium has agreed to publish a “Book of Invited Presentations”, in which all conference presentations handed in will be included. The consortium and the editors are planning for the publication to be finished by spring 2009 and that it will be available to buy or via the PARSEL partners from June 2009. Further information about the “Book of Invited Presentations” can shortly be found >here<.

The organisers would like to thank, in the name of the whole PARSEL consortium, everyone who contributed to making this conference such a success – most of all the teachers and speakers and the entire conference team. A special thanks goes to the European Union whose not only financial support played a vital role in making this conference such a fruitful and interesting as well as cross-border exchange of experiences.

Best wishes,

Prof. Claus Bolte Member of the PARSEL Consortium Head of Conference Team

Dr. Wolfgang Gräber Speaker and Coordinator of the PARSEL Consortium

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