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.  

1900-1909
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

 

1910-1919
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

 

1920-1929
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)

 

1930-1939
1933 Safeguards in the Laboratory published by AWST
1939 A total of 8 branches of SMA approved by the SMA Committee

 

1940-1949
1947 Safeguards in the Laboratory (1st edition!) published by SMA/AWST

 

1950-1959
1950 Safeguards in the Laboratory (2nd edition!) published by SMA
1957 Safeguards in the School Laboratory (3rd edition) published by SMA

 

1960-1969
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.

 

1970-1979
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

 

1980-1989
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)

 

1990-1999
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

 

2000-2009
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)

 

2010-2019
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-present
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