Conference epiSTEME-3 is the third in a series of biennial conferences meant to review research world-wide in science, technology and mathematics education. It is being organised by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.
Science, technology and mathematics education have, in recent decades, emerged as lively new research areas.  This research, inspired by issues of learning and teaching, has clear uniting themes in the cognitive, pedagogical, historical, philosophical and socio-cultural aspects of the sciences.  The name epiSTEME connotes, at one level, a systematic study of knowledge, while as acronym it suggests a
meta-view of science, technology and mathematics education.
The epiSTEME conferences aim to bring together researchers in the neighbouring disciplines of science, technology and mathematics education, and in the disciplines that inform this research such as history and philosophy of science, cognitive and socio-cultural studies. For information on the previous epiSTEME conferences see http://www.hbcse.tifr.res.in/episteme.  Conference epiSTEME-3 continues the tradition of interdisciplinary exchange.

Aim of the conference
Conference epiSTEME-3 will focus on four broad strands of research that impact Science, Techology and Mathematics Education, which are listed below. Under each strand, one or more focus themes have been identified that reflect active research topics and areas of interest. Leading scholars in the field will be invited to give overviews of some of the themes within each strand. Paper and poster sessions will complement the review talks. Pre and post conference workshops are being planned, the details of which will be announced later. The conference will strive to nurture the research community in India while fostering linkages between theory and empirical research in STM education. The conference aims at strengthening academic interactions among research groups in this field across the world.

Strand 1: Historical, philosophical and socio-cultural studies of STM: Implications for education

Focus theme 1: Perceptions of science, technology and mathematics
Focus theme 2: Gender issues in STME
Focus theme 3: Using history and philosophy of STM in teaching

Strand 2: Cognitive studies of STM learning

Focus theme 1: Visual and spatial modes in STM learning
Focus theme 2: STM learning in multilingual and multicultural contexts
Focus theme 3: Interaction between cognitive development and STM learning

Strand 3: Pedagogical studies of STM education

Focus theme 1: Curriculum and classroom studies of STM learning
Focus theme 2: Integrating content across STM education

Strand 4: Learning resources and teacher support

Focus theme 1: Role of new communication technologies in providing learning resources and teacher support

The conference will include about 12 review talks, and about 30 paper presentations and 30 poster presentations. Additionally, time will be allocated for discussion sessions on STME issues of current importance. Approximately 120 participants are expected.

Invited Speakers (confirmed)
Abraham Arcavi, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
John K. Gilbert, University of Reading, UK
Farida Khan, Jamia Millia Islamia, India Helen Longino, Stanford University, USA Vivek Monteiro, Navnirmiti, India Eduardo Mortimer, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Chitra Natarajan, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, India
Veena Poonacha, SNDT University, India Anna Sfard, Michigan State University, USA
Shailesh Shirali, Rishi Valley School, India
Kay Stables, University of London, UK

Call for Submissions
Papers on the strands and focus themes listed above are invited. Submissions must be made online in the form of full papers of 6-8 pages (maximum of 8 pages including references) of A4 size in single space, 12pt, Times New Roman font with margins as follows: top - 3 cm, bottom - 3 cm, left - 3 cm and right - 2 cm. Submissions may be made in the following formats: Rich Text Format (.rtf), Open Document Text (.odt) or Latex (.tex). A template for submission may be downloaded from the conference webpage.  To enable a blind review process, authors' names and other details must be provided separately in the online form, and must not be included in the papers.
Papers will be peer-reviewed and acceptance will be notified to authors. The deadlines for submission of the paper and of the final, fully revised version are given below. All the papers accepted for presentation and presented at the conference will be published in the Proceedings. Proceedings will be available to conference participants in print form and on CD.
There are two modes of paper presentation at the Conference: oral presentation and poster presentation. The academic committee will assign accepted papers to one of the two modes of presentation. Authors may indicate their preference for mode of presentation at the time of submission.

Important dates
Deadline for submission of paper:  April 30 2008 (extended to May 15)
Notification of acceptance:  June 30 2008
Submission of revised papers:  August 15 2008
Registration with payment:  September 30 2008
Conference:  January 5-9 2009

Participation without paper submission:
Those who wish to participate in the Conference without submitting a paper may fill up a form on the epiSTEME-3 webpage before May 31, 2008. Participation in the Conference will be confirmed by July 31, 2008.

Venue
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR) is located at the North-Eastern end of the island city of Mumbai. Until recently known as Bombay, Mumbai is India's most cosmopolitan city, finance and business capital and home of the entertainment industry, popularly known as Bollywood. Mumbai is a vibrant, pulsating metropolis, which affords diverse sightseeing opportunities.
We expect to accommodate most conference participants on the HBCSE Campus, which is also the venue for the conference.

Conference fees
Conference fees will need to be paid by 30th September 2008. The modalities of payment will be notified on the conference webpage.
Participants from Institutions outside India
Regular:  USD 450      Student:  USD 200
Participants from Institutions within India
Regular:  INR 4000     Student: INR 2000
Conference fees will cover: accommodation for 5 nights (January 4-8, food from January 4 (dinner) to January 9 (lunch), conference materials and proceedings.
Partial support for travel may be available to a limited number of participants from India. Applications for travel support must be made before September 30, 2008.
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education Tata Institute of Fundamental Research V. N. Purav Marg Mankhurd Mumbai 400 088 India.
E-mail:   episteme3@hbcse.tifr.res.in;   episteme3@gmail.com Fax: 91-22-2556 6803, 2558 5660

K. Subramaniam, Convener, epiSTEME-3
http://www.hbcse.tifr.res.in/episteme3