Our History
ASE was formed in 1963 by the merger of the Science Master's Association (SMA) and the Association of Women Science Teachers (AWST), but its origins date back to 1900 with a letter written by four science masters from Eton College proposing a conference for Science Masters in Public Schools. The first Annual Meeting of this association was held in January 1901.This led to the formation of the Association of Public School Science Masters. The history of the ASE can be found in the book “Interpreters of Science” by David Layton.
Incorporated by Royal Charter in October 2004, the ASE operates as a Registered Charity.
The history of the ASE can be found in two publications: Interpreters of Science by David Layton and, published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the association, Advancing Science Education: the first fifty years of the Association for Science Education, Edited by Edgar Jenkins and Valerie Wood-Robinson.
Our former Patron of the Association was HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, PC, KT, GMBE, FRS.
You can access a list of former Presidents, Honorary Members and Chairs of the ASE.
Timeline of ASE history
From significant milestones in ASE's history to other achievements such as first publicaton of our journals, our timeline traces dates by decade.
1900 | Four science teachers at Eton College propose a conference of science masters in public schools |
1901 | First conference of science masters in public schools |
1902 | Association of Public School Science Masters (APSSM) formed with 68 members |
1912 | Association of Science Teachers (in women's schools & colleges) (AST) formed with 103 members |
1918 | Science Masters' Association (SMA) replaces APSSM (208 members) with wider membership |
1919 | School Science Review (SSR) first published by APSSM |
1922 | AST becomes the Association of Women Science Teachers (AWST) with 360 members |
1925 | First annual meeting of SMA not held in London - University of Leeds |
1926 | First branch approved by SMA Committee (North-eastern) |
1933 | Safeguards in the Laboratory published by AWST |
1939 | A total of 8 branches of SMA approved by the SMA Committee |
1947 | Safeguards in the Laboratory (1st edition!) published by SMA/AWST |
1950 | Safeguards in the Laboratory (2nd edition!) published by SMA |
1957 | Safeguards in the School Laboratory (3rd edition) published by SMA |
1960 | SMA leases 52 Bateman Street, Cambridge as HQ |
1961 | Bill Tapper takes up post as first full-time General Secretary of SMA |
1961 | Business meeting of Republic of Ireland Branch of SMA agrees to secede from SMA as Irish Science Teachers' Association |
1961 | Essex Joint Branch of SMA and AWST recommends parent associations to merge |
1962 | Decision to merge SMA and AWST as Association for Science Education (ASE) |
1962 | SMA first publishes Bulletin |
1963 | ASE inaugurated with 52 Bateman Street, Cambridge as HQ and E. W. Tapper as full-time General Secretary, 9183 members, 3 members of staff |
1964 | First female ASE Chair (Miss F. M. Eastwood) |
1965 | Safeguards in the School Laboratory (5th edition) published by ASE |
1966 | ASE renames Bulletin as Education in Science (EiS) |
1969 | ASE moved into purpose-built HQ on Hatfield Technical College campus. |
1971 | ASE membership reaches 14 000 |
1972 | Brian Atwood becomes second General Secretary, 16 members of staff |
1976 | ASE publishes LAMP project (Less Academically Motivated Pupils) |
1978 | Opening of extension to ASE HQ building |
1980 | ASE first publishes Primary Science (largely examples of pupils' work in science) |
1983 | Special reduced subscription rate introduced for primary science teacher members |
1984 | ASE sets up SATIS project (Science and Technology in Society) |
1986 | ASE first publishes Primary Science Review (PSR) |
1989 | Dr David Moore becomes General Secretary (later Chief Executive) |
1991 | ASE INSET services set up on University of Warwick Science Park, Director Malcolm Oakes |
1999 | First primary science teacher as ASE Chair (Rosemary Feasey) |
1999 | ASE membership exceeds 21 000 |
2001 |
Centenary Annual Meeting (University of Surrey) |
2002 | Derek Bell becomes Chief Executive |
2004 | Royal Charter granted to ASE |
2007 | ASE HQ moves to new premises on University of Hertfordshire campus |
2009 | ASE appoints first female Chief Executive (Annette Smith) |
2010 | First ASE Chair from an ethnic minority (Manoj Chitnavis) |
2010 | Journal of Emergent Science first published |
2014 | Shaun Reason becomes Chief Executive |
2018 | Primary Science Review (PSR) renamed as Primary Science (PS) |
2019 | Hannah Russell becomes ASE Chief Executive |
2020 | Safeguards in the School Laboratory (12th edition) published by ASE |
2021 | First science technician as ASE Chair (Simon Quinnell) |
2022 | Lynn Ladbrook becomes ASE Chief Executive |
2022 | SSR splits into SSR in Practice (on paper and on-line) and SSR in Depth (on-line only) |
2024 | ASE leaves its HQ building on University of Hertfordshire campus to become an entirely virtual organisation |