ICASE (Hatfield, Herts, UK)

ICASE is an umbrella NGO organization linking national professional science teacher associations around the world, with a secretariat in the UK (Hatfield, Herts, UK). It has extensive links to associations in Europe and through the local associations, to enthusiastic classroom teachers of science subjects. The main role of ICASE is coordination between the national associations and as such, it, itself, has only a 15 person elected committee (with a smaller management group comprising President from Thailand, President-elect from New Zealand, Secretary from Estonia and Treasurer from UK). It thus draws its main expertise and manpower from the national associations and their members. In this manner the local association effectively functions as ICASE in their respective country and carries out joint projects by mutual consent. In this way, ICASE is represented in countries of the consortium and, in addition, is able to activate links with most EU countries and some non EU countries in Europe (such as Norway, Turkey, Ukraine and Bulgaria). ICASE will play a key role in the supplying of teaching/learning materials, helping the testing of exemplar materials and especially in the wider dissemination of the outcomes via its contacts with member organizations in Europe and the rest of the world and through its quarterly international journal, Science Education International.  ICASE has had experience over its 30 years of existence in coordinating between member associations, holding conferences, seminars, workshops and producing an international journal. In Europe, it holds coordinating meetings for European members on an annual basis. ICASE has been involved in EU Leonardo projects and in working with organisations such as CEFIC (European Industry Association’s Council) and UNESCO on projects and jointly running conferences. The last two projects relate to science teaching materials.

The partner network will link to ICASE via its steering committee. ICASE will link to the project via its Management Committee which has nominated its ex-secretary, Prof Jack Holbrook (visiting professor, University of Tartu, Estonia) as its participant in the project. As a previous secretary of ICASE for 25 years, Prof Jack Holbrook has strong personal links to the European associations and worldwide has worked with them on previous research and evaluation projects linked to the development of scientific and technological literacy through the development of appropriate teaching/learning materials. He has an extensive background in science education, having worked in this field in the UK, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Estonia and has undertaken specialist consultancies and ran workshops in many European, African and Asian countries. He has published textbooks, edited journals, published teaching/learning materials and written journal articles in the field of science education as well as supervised M.Ed and PhD students.