The further development of International Journal of Science Education

During 2011, the International Journal of Science Education will be further developed into International Journal of Science Education Part A: Formal Science Education, which will be concerned with schools, colleges, universities, teacher education, and the new journal International Journal of Science Education Part B: Science Communication and Public Engagement.

International Journal of Science Education Part B: Science Communication and Public Engagement will address the communication between and the engagement by individuals and groups concerning evidence-based information about the nature, outcomes, and social consequences, of science and technology.

The journal will aim:

• To bridge the gap between theory and practice concerning the communication of evidence-based information about the nature, outcomes, and social consequences of science and technology;
• To address the perspectives on communication about science and technology of individuals and groups of citizens of all ages, scientists and engineers, media persons, industrialists, policy makers, from countries throughout the world;
• To promote rational discourse about the role of communication concerning science and technology in private, social, economic and cultural aspects of life;

Papers will be concerned with:

• The interests, perceptions and behaviours regarding communication about science and technology of individuals of all ages (from schoolchildren to senior citizens) and groups (whether formal {e.g. within organisations} or informal {i.e. 'free-choice'} or linking those categories);
• A full range of social groups and nationalities;
• Forms of communication of information and opportunities for active engagement such as those presented by museums and science centres, festivals and science shows, printed media (newspapers, magazines, books, comics), film, the internet, public policy documents, public dialogue;
• A focus on the actions of initiators and on the reactions of recipients in the science and technology communication process, severally drawn from scientists and engineers, mediators (e.g. newspaper editors, book authors, web designers), policy makers, the 'public'.

The journal will publish:

• Substantial research papers, whether moving from empirical results towards explanatory theory, or vice versa;
• Small pieces of research, or syntheses of such small pieces of research, perhaps originating in First Degree or Master's Degree enquiries;
• Reviews of fields of research, the emphasis being on their applicability to practice;
• Overviews of major research conferences;
• Book reviews

Further details of submission procedures will be posted on the journal website (http://www.tandf.co.uk/ijse).