Scope of the book There is an on-going debate regarding the role of labwork in science education, which dates back several decades and which illustrates the conviction and interest of teachers, researchers and policy-makers world-wide in the value of laboratory work for understanding science. This is evident in more recent books and studies regarding the laboratory, which mainly refer to countries with a considerable tradition in practical work in science education (Woolnough & Alsop 1985, Hodson 1993, Hegarthy-Hazel 1990, Wellington 2000). Yet in discussing research studies on labwork,...

We are pleased to present the ESERA 2001 Conference book, which is based on contributions submitted and presented to the Third International Conference "Science Education Research in the Knowledge Based Society" that was organised by the Department of Primary Education of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and held in Thessaloniki from August 21 to August 26, 2001. The focus of the Conference was to discuss the scope, methods, outcomes and perspectives of research in science education in the context of the rapidly developing knowledge-based society. Some 450 researchers, teachers, and...