THE EARLY YEARS
Fred Brinkman
The RDC was instituted in the late 1980s, originally under the name of "The training of science teachers." Under the leadership of Fred Brinkman (pictured second from left above, and at the Warsaw conference in 2002), it rapidly became perhaps the largest and most dynamic group in the Association. It was one of the few RDCs to focus on teacher education for a specific school subject - or, more accurately, a cluster of subjects. From the mid-1990s, the group attracted a number of participants who were chiefly interested in mathematics education rather than science education, and the RDC willingly enlarged its mandate to include studies related to mathematics. Work at this stage was varied, but many papers had a focus on teacher thinking and conceptual change. This focus was eventually reflected in the RDC's first formal project, which dominated the work of the group in the late 1990s.
DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE TIME OF THE FIRST RDC PROJECT
Onno de Jong
The mathematics educators in the group were the first to form a collaborative subgroup (known as the Oslo Maths Group because their collaborative project - the Oslo Maths Project - started at the annual conference in Oslo in 1995), using what became known as the "lesson preparation method." Their methodology was replicated by subgroups in the different science areas, and the larger project flourished. During this period, leadership of the group was taken over by Onno de Jong, a notable participant in the project; his appointment maintained the strong influence of teacher educators from the Netherlands that contributed to the group's early productivity. It should be noted also that Sheila Turner and Tony Turner, both from England, served as joint vice-chairs until 2000, when they bowed out of ATEE. They were replaced as RDC vice-chairs by Laurinda Leite (Portugal) and Elizabeth Oldham (Ireland), representing science and mathematics respectively. The name of the group was changed to "The training of science and mathematics teachers" to emphasize the widened mandate - though the expanded designation was not always reflected in ATEE literature and communications.
WORK IN THE 2000s
Varied work has continued, and has included the development of further projects (with Chris Hopkins from England and Sarah [Sally] Berenson from the USA playing key roles in the projects' design), but also benefiting from the presentation of papers on many topics unconnected with these. A further name change - this time undertaken as part of a streamlining exercise by ATEE - saw the group take on its present title, "Science and mathematics education."
As regards the position of chair, Onno de Jong stepped down from active involvement in ATEE after the 2002 conference in Warsaw. Laurinda Leite and Elizabeth Oldham then worked as co-chairs, with Elsa Price (USA) later appointed as vice-chair. In summer 2013, Laurinda was temporarily released from her position as co-chair in order to concentrate on hosting the 2014 Annual Conference in Braga, Portugal; she resumed the role once the work of the conference was completed.
In 2015 and 2016, discussion at the RDC meetings included consideration of STEM education. The RDC has considered extending its mandate so as to cover this area or cooperating with the RDC "Teacher education and digital technology" on the subject. Ideas are welcome.
Varied work has continued, and has included the development of further projects (with Chris Hopkins from England and Sarah [Sally] Berenson from the USA playing key roles in the projects' design), but also benefiting from the presentation of papers on many topics unconnected with these. A further name change - this time undertaken as part of a streamlining exercise by ATEE - saw the group take on its present title, "Science and mathematics education."
As regards the position of chair, Onno de Jong stepped down from active involvement in ATEE after the 2002 conference in Warsaw. Laurinda Leite and Elizabeth Oldham then worked as co-chairs, with Elsa Price (USA) later appointed as vice-chair. In summer 2013, Laurinda was temporarily released from her position as co-chair in order to concentrate on hosting the 2014 Annual Conference in Braga, Portugal; she resumed the role once the work of the conference was completed.
In 2015 and 2016, discussion at the RDC meetings included consideration of STEM education. The RDC has considered extending its mandate so as to cover this area or cooperating with the RDC "Teacher education and digital technology" on the subject. Ideas are welcome.
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD
The RDC's website, set up in summer 2012, is a natural place in which to store visual as well as textual material. We welcome photographs that show RDC members - at work, or enjoying the social life that is a feature of ATEE conferences! In general, the photographs here are those taken by members, complementing the official records that may appear on ATEE websites. Contributions can be sent to any of the RDC's Co-Chairs / Vice-Chair: currently Laurinda Leite (lleite@ie.uminho.pt), Elizabeth Oldham (eoldham@tcd.ie) and Elsa Price (elsaprice69@gmail.com).
The RDC's website, set up in summer 2012, is a natural place in which to store visual as well as textual material. We welcome photographs that show RDC members - at work, or enjoying the social life that is a feature of ATEE conferences! In general, the photographs here are those taken by members, complementing the official records that may appear on ATEE websites. Contributions can be sent to any of the RDC's Co-Chairs / Vice-Chair: currently Laurinda Leite (lleite@ie.uminho.pt), Elizabeth Oldham (eoldham@tcd.ie) and Elsa Price (elsaprice69@gmail.com).
INTER-CONFERENCE RDC MEETING 1996
The Oslo Maths Group meeting in Dublin, Spring 1996: Sally Berenson, Maria Blanton, Ton van der Valk...
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... and Ulla Runesson, Cândida Queiros Moreira & Elizabeth Oldham working on the RDC's first co-operative project
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1999
Enjoying drinks during the Annual Conference in Leipzig, 1999 (facing camera: Ineke Frederik, Tony Turner; in profile: Ton van der Valk)
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2002
RDC members in a session at the 2002 Annual Conference in Warsaw (from left to right, standing: Elsa Price, Christine Hopkins, Maria de Fátima Paixão, Kristina Öberg, Karen Dawkins, Maryann Ehle, (?), (?); seated, Jo Ann Belk, Laurinda Leite)
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The American contingent ((?), Maryann Ehle, Elsa Price, Karen Dawkins, Melvin Price, Jo Ann Belk) enjoy an evening in the city
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2007
The 2007 Annual Conference festive dinner at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC stadium
(Trisha Eaton, Laurinda Leite, Teresa Vilaça; Kristina Öberg, Karen Dawkins, Sally Berenson)
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2008
An RDC session at the 2008 Annual Conference in Brussels: Ruth Forrest and Sally Berenson
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2009
The organisers of the 2009 Annual Conference in Mallorca, Mireia Montane and Joana Salazar Noguera, relaxing with RDC co-chair Elizabeth Oldham (centre) ..................................................................... Workshop leaders V. Bundhoo and A. Bholoa with Theodora De Baz, Elsa Price and (?) at an RDC session
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2010
At the 2010 Annual Conference in Budapest: Laurinda Leite, Maria Bravo, Trisha Eaton, Maja Cindric, Elsa Price
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Evening cruise on the Danube: Elizabeth Oldham (dressed for rain!)
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At the Budapest conference dinner: Teresa Vilaça (standing), Maryann Ehle, Maria Bravo and her daughter...
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... and Maja Cindric, Elsa Price, Melvin Price
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011
Sally Berenson - chief originator of the Oslo Maths Project and the Ratio Project - at her last ATEE conference (so far!)
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The University of Latvia - site of the conference - from the State Park
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Dignified setting!
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2012
The 2012 Annual Conference in Eskişehir: Waiting for the bus at Istanbul airport (Teresa Vilaça, Laurinda Leite) ........................................ Turkish food at the Namli hotel - Elizabeth Oldham... ... and friends (Maryann Ehle, second from right)
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2013
New members for the RDC in ... (Milan Stojkovic )
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... some of the sessions at the 2013 Annual Conference in Østfold, Norway (Gerd Johansen, Hilde Afdal, Batya Amit)
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Elsa Price and Hilde Afdal with family and ...
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... Laurinda Leite with friends at the Østfold conference dinner
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014
Elsa Price and Piedade Vaz Rebelo at Coimbra after the Braga conference
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Participants (Milan Stojkovic, Jim Freemyer, Donatella De Tommaso, Linda Hobbs, Elsa Price, Anna Asti, Maurice OReilly and Elizabeth Oldham) at the end of a session at the 2014 Annual Conference in Braga
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Milan Stojkovic and Laurinda Leite at Guimaraes after the Braga conference
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2015
Linda Hobbs and Mellita Jones
Maurice OReilly and Trisha Eaton
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The Kosovo delegation!
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Melvin Price, Elizabeth Oldham and Elsa Price
At dinner before the ceilidh at the 2015 Annual Conference in Glasgow
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Presenters Maurice OReilly, Trisha Eaton, Sandra Jederud, Laila Niklasson, Imran Thaqi and Xhevdet Thaqi at the fourth parallel session in Glasgow
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2016
Elsa Price, Iclal Ayvar, Elizabeth Oldham and Laurinda Leite at the 2016 Annual Conference in Eindhoven
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Milan Stojkovic, Elizabeth Oldham, Jouri Van Landeghem, Nele Vermeulen, Elsa Price and Laurinda Leite after an RDC session
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Eindhoven - the weather was lovely ... not so sure about the arithmetic!
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017
Ljubica Oparnica, Arne Mogensen, Floriano Viseu, Elizabeth Oldham, Laurinda Leite and Elsa Price framed by the "lavender" visual identity of the 2017 Annual Conference in Dubrovnik
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Remember the view from the hotel?
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Elsa Price, Arne Mogensen, Lorraine Harbison, Kristóf Velkey, Elizabeth Oldham, Floriano Viseu and Laurinda Leite after an RDC meeting
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Eddie Costello, Laurinda Leite and Patsy Stafford during an RDC meeting
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WINTER CONFERENCE 2018
Stella Long and Elizabeth Oldham with other Irish participants Melanie Ní Dhuinn and Teresa O'Doherty
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On the route from the town centre to the conference location
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SPRING CONFERENCE 2018
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Opening session in Bialystok - a new location for the Spring Conference. |
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Milan Stojkovic was the only representative of the RDC present. and was "behind the camera" for this photo. |
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2018
Presentations on science ...
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... and mathematics ...
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... at the 2018 Annual Conference in Gävle
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RDC members and friends enjoying an evening meal
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Milan Stojkovic discussing his poster
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Helena Martinho on the tour of the Old Town
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WINTER CONFERENCE 2019 [ORGANISED BY THE RDC]
Opening session: Laurinda Leite (coordinator of the Organising Committee) on the right, next to ATEE Vice-President Davide Parmigiani
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Laurinda closing the conference
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Keynote speakers: Merrilyn Goos (mathematics) ...
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... and Ilka Parchmann
(science)
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The panel discussion: João Pedro Ponte, Maria Alessandra Mariotti, Elsa Price (chair) and António Cachapuz
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Tour of the 3Bs Institute
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Visit to I3Bs - Institute of Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Guimarães
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Ronny Smet (Chair of RDC Chairs) and Ljubica Oparnica outside the Institute
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Parallel Session 3: Ljubica Oparnica presenting
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Parallel Session 3 presenters: Elizabeth Oldham, Ljubica Oparnica and Ineta Helmane
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Milan Stojkovic's poster
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Maria Helena Martinho's and Floriano Viseu's poster - a contribution to the Functions Project
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Keith Walters at the Social Dinner in the Hotel Vila Galé
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Social Dinner in the Hotel Vila Galé: at the nearest table - Milan Stojkovic, Kalina Jastrzębowska (almost hidden), Stalo Stratoura Savoulli, Adam Lloyd, Merrilyn Goos and Elsa Price
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Outside Palácio do Raio before the Social Dinner: Zelha Tunç-Pekkan, Elizabeth Oldham, Patsy Stafford and Maria (?)
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