On behalf of the Organizing Committee we would like to invite you to participate in the 1st International Symposium on Science Centers and Sustainable Development organized by Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey. The symposium will be held from 11 to 13 of June, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.
The first “science center” was Urania, founded in Berlin in 1888. Science Centers have steadily gained importance and become universalized over the last century and are expected to develop further and further in the forthcoming years. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) enables children and adults to make decisions and at the same time understand how those decisions will affect future generations. Accordingly, the main goal of this symposium is to present and discuss the role of Science Centers in Sustainable Development and to develop a platform for mutual scientific contact between scientists, researchers and manufacturers, for the purpose of expressing, sharing, learning and discussing recent trends, technologies, innovations, complications and solutions in Science Centers and in Education for Sustainable Development.
The symposium welcomes scientists, researchers, science & technology teachers and manufacturers from all over the world to share their knowledge, together with their technologies and products, with the community.
The official languages of the symposium have been set as English, French and Turkish. During the pannels, a simultaneous translation service will be provided for each language.
Looking forward to welcoming you to Istanbul…
Dr. Burçkin DAL
Organizing Committee Chair
Istanbul Technical University
Sustainable Development
1. What does “Sustainable Development” mean? How is “Sustainable Development” being understood and represented in the world? How should we perceive this concept in historical content? From the day the concept was declared on an international platform, which different features has the content of this concept earned?
2. How has the passing of time affected national / international education applications on the issue? In “Sustainable Development” education, what national / international strategies have been determined for the coming years?
3. Which education methods and strategies should be applied to children and adults regarding “Sustainable Development”?
Science Centers
1. What does Science Center mean? How should the institutional structure of Science Centers work? Who is working for Science Centers?
2. Today, what is carried out in Science Centers? How are the contents of activities in Science Centers planned and applied? Do Science Centers develop ancillary or alternative applications for school laboratory studies?
3. What are examples of practical education activities prepared for instructors / guides of Science Centers located in different countries? Are the applications implemented in Science Centers effective for teachers and students in appropriate age levels?
The Role of Science Centers in Sustainable Development
1. Should Science Centers carry out studies within the concept of “Sustainable Development” education? Which working qualifications should the Science Center officers have aside from their standard terms of reference?
2. Do Science Centers contain appropriate education programs and experiment units for “Sustainable Development” education? With which parameters, experiment units and education strategies do Science Centers aim to engage people with developing technologies?
3. Do Science Centers provide an application field regarding “Sustainable Development” for active education programs in schools? How should teachers plan their class visits to Science Centers? (When should Science Centers be visited? – Which qualifications do teachers need to have before the visit?)
Workshops Session
Workshops will be approved by the Scientific Committee and will be presented on the following topics on the 3th day of the symposium:
1. Creative Ideas for Sustainable Life. 2. Sustainable Engineering 3. Renewable Energy 4. Ecosystem 5. Earth Sciences 6. Climate change
Abstract deadline: – 30.03.2012
Abstract acceptance: – 16.04.2012
Full paper deadline: – 30.05.2012
Symposium: 11-13. 06. 2012
Onur Berk Arslanoglu
Symposium Secretariat
Adress:
I.T.Ü. Bilim Merkezi
Taşkışla , TR-34437 Istanbul / Turkey
Phone: + 90 532 335 63 21
Fax: + 90 212 251 60 14
E-Mail: scsturkey2012@yahoo.com
