What is ATSE?

ATSE (Association of Tutors in Science Education) is the subject group for tutors and mentors in science education who are primarily concerned with the initial education/training of science teachers in primary and secondary schools in UK and their continuing professional development. In September 2004 the group was formally affiliated to and administered by ASE although it remains independent of its host in issues relating to teacher education. ATSE was formed in 2000 by the merger of ASET (Association of Science Education Tutors) and the SES (Science Education Section - the professional group for tutors - mainly in the 'New' university sector that was formerly supported by NATFHE).

The main aims of the group (see constitution) include the aims of ASE but focus particularly on:

Supporting the work of Science Tutors, mentors and others working in initial science teacher education and CPD throughout the UK.
Facilitating the exchange of ideas about science education through the website, meeting and research, and alerting national agencies to issues of concern to the membership.

Who is eligible to become members of ATSE?

Anyone who has a principal interest in the initial training and subsequent professional development of science teachers is welcome to join ATSE. It is a normal requirement that members are also members of ASE.

How do I apply for ATSE membership?

If you are not already an ASE member you will need to join, and also subscribe to Science Teacher Education which is currently £12 per year in addition to your ASE membership. The link below will guide you through all types of ASE membership, also look for the (ATSE) symbol on the membership webpages to subscribe to Science Teacher Education and complete your ATSE membership.
http://www.ase.org.uk/htm/membership/benefits_of_membership.php

How do we support members?

(a) ATSE members will automatically receive the journal Science Teacher Education (STE). This is published by ASE and is the official journal of ATSE, though non-ATSE members can subscribe to it.

(b) Two conferences are held each year as well as a strong presence at the ASE annual conference. Proceedings of previous conferences are available for ASE members to view and download. They provide members with the opportunity to hear national speakers, discuss key issues, present research papers and to network. We also arrange visits to local facilities of scientific and/or science educational interest.

(c) We have built a database of science tutors and we send a regular news letter out. If you have an item of interest to science tutors please consider using the bulletin board of the sci-tutors website or email your message to kross@glos.ac.uk who will consider including it in the news letter. If you would like to be a member of this email database, please email lareenjolly@ase.org.uk

(d) ATSE is formally asked to respond to many official consultations - and where appropriate and possible (timescale) members are involved in this.

(e) The sci-tutors website, written to support tutors new to science teacher education, provides a forum for exchange of views and practice for all those involved in science teacher education. This site is protected by a free user log-in to allow us to monitor its use. It has a bulletin board which we encourage members to use to comment on issues relating to science teacher education and to support the development of the website. visit the sci-tutors website

Organisation of ATSE

We have a committee structure that allows current issues facing science teacher education to be discussed. The committee meets four times a year - during each of the conferences and an all-day meeting at ASE HQ in the summer term. The AGM, at which the new committee is elected, is held during the annual residential conference.

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