2013 IHPST Conference - Proposal Deadline extended to March 8, 2013



The twelfth biennial International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching (IHPST) conference will be held at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, Wednesday, June 19 to Sunday June 23, 2013.  The opening session will begin at 7pm Wednesday, June 19 to be followed by a welcome reception at 8pm.  The closing session is scheduled to end at 12:30 pm on Sunday June 23.

Details concerning conference proposals appear below. This information, as well as information about registration, accommodations, travel, excursions, local Pittsburgh interests, and the program will become available on the conference web site:  http://conference.ihpst.net.  Registration information will be posted on the website by the end of January.  The conference is being hosted and supported by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education (http://www.education.pitt.edu) with cooperation of the Center for Philosophy of Science (http://www.pitt.edu/~pittcntr). We also thank the Interdivisional Teaching Commission of the International Union for History and Philosophy ofScience (http://www.idtc-iuhps.org) and Springer (http://www.springer.com/education+%26+language/science+education/journal/11191) for their support.

Conference Theme: The Influence of Scientific Practices

It can be argued that scientific practices have changed the world.  They have changed our knowledge base, they have changed our technology, and they have changed the way we think and act.  Recently the philosophy of science has experienced a “practice turn,” identifying practice as a conceptual lens that can help explain the way science has developed, and what science is.  Educators have also turned attention to the same concept of practice, not to explain the development of science, but to tap into a way of thinking about how learning happens, and how students should be taught.  This overlapping interest in practice is an excellent opportunity to make coherent connections across history and philosophy of science and science education.  Authors are encouraged to submit proposals that relate to this theme, but all proposals will be evaluated equally without reference to it.


SUBMISSION PROCESS - Scholars interested in presenting at the conference should submit to the conference website (http://conference.ihpst.net) by Friday, March 8, 2013 a proposal fitting one of the following three categories.

Traditional Paper Presentation – proposals must include the following:
  • Title of proposed session
  • Abstract not exceeding 500 words
  • Body of proposal not to exceed 1,500 words
Symposia or Panel Presentation (3-4 presenters in a 1 ½ hour session) - Proposals must include the following:
  • Title of proposed panel session
  • Session panelists
  • Abstract not exceeding 500 words
  • Body of panel proposal that includes (a) a summary of the panel topic, not exceeding 500 words, that makes clear why the session will be of interest to conference attendees, and (b) each panel member’s contribution (not exceeding 500 words for each panel member)
Interactive Poster Presentation (a format where scholarship is presented in a manner that permits greater informal discussion with conference participants). Proposals must include the following:

  • Title of proposed poster session
  • Abstract not exceeding 500 words
  • Body of proposal not to exceed 1,500 words
All proposals must contain enough information so that the conference program review committee may make an informed judgment about the suitability of the paper for the conference program.  All submissions should be in MS Word using Times New Roman 12pt (11pt for indented quotations) and following the style of the Science & Education journal.  In brief this means first line, title (upper and lower case, bold); second line, author’s name (upper and lower case, bold); third line, institution and email. Two files should be submitted as Word attachments with files named using author’s family name or surname.  Thus one labeled SURNAME_ABSTRACT, the other labeled SURNAME_PROPOSAL.  Thus, ‘smith_abstract.doc’ and ‘smith_proposal.doc’.

Review and Notification

All proposals will be carefully reviewed by the conference program review committee.  Acceptance decisions will be communicated as soon as possible after receipt of submission, and certainly before March 22, 2013 after which date the program will be in preparation.  Authors must register before May 3, 2013 for inclusion in the program.

Proceedings

Authors of successful proposals will be invited to submit a paper (3,000 - 4,000 words) for the IHPST 2013 Proceedings.  All submissions should be in MS Word using Times New Roman 12pt and following the style of the Science & Education journal. To appear in the Proceedings, papers must be sent before May 3rd, 2013 to: conference@ihpst.net.  The IHPST 2013 Proceedings will be printed and distributed at the conference and will also appear on line at the conference website: http://conference.ihpst.net.

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Michael P. Clough
Associate Professor
Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education

President, International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching (IHPST) Group
http://ihpst.net/

Associate Editor, Iowa Science Teachers Journal
http://www.iacad.org/ists/ISTJ/issues/index.html