Connections

Francisco Varela

Rowhea Elmesky

Penny J. Gilmer

Catherine Milne

 

Service Activities

With Wolff-Michael Roth I was the co-founding editor-in-chief of Cultural Studies of Science Education. When Michael completed his term as co-editor-in-chief after volume 4, I continued in my role through volume 5. Now as we publish volume 6 of CSSE my colleague and friend Catherine Milne has joined me as co-editor-in-chief. Among my highest service priorities is to continue the establishment of CSSE and as a major international Journal that emphasizes sociocultural theory as a framework for science education. Although there are many signs of success in terms of the internationalization of the Journal, there are significant challenges ahead and I am committed to the expansion of the Journal through collaboration with Cath and a talented editorial board.

My relationship with Springer press also includes being series co-editor for Cultural Studies of Science Education (a companion to the Journal) with Catherine Milne and series co-editor for Explorations of Educational Purpose with Shirley Steinberg. Being involved in these series provides an opportunity to foster publication and dissemination of high-quality research in science education, urban education, and cutting edge theory and practice that has the potential to transform education.

I am also involved as coeditor and editor respectively of two book series with Sense publishing. As is the case with Springer, I am involved as co-editor with Catherine Milne in a series that emphasizes cultural studies and science education at another as editor–Bold Visions. The latter series was codeveloped with my friend and colleague Joe Kincheloe, who recently passed away. I endeavor to maintain Joe’s vision of publishing cutting-edge scholarship with a critical orientation.

When I moved to New York City I established with colleagues at research group that focused on research in science, math, and technology education. We use the acronym USER-S for the group–standing for Urban Science Education Research–Seminar. Over the seven years in which this group has once a month on a Saturday we have expanded our focus to include the learning sciences. Despite the expansion enough focus we have retained the original acronym and maintained the focus on urban education. I regard my leadership within this group as an important service activity which fosters collaboration among the CUNY institutions and other institutions in the New York City region. The group also includes colleagues from the Delaware Valley and extends to the north as well to include Boston. Through the use of streaming video we are now able to disseminate USER-S throughout the world.