As those of you who attended the ESERA conference in Dublin in the autumn of 2017 may have gathered, 2017 saw John’s last year as Editor-in-Chief of the ‘International Journal of Science Education’ more commonly referred to as IJSE by those in the field.
John became Associate Editor of IJSE in 1988 and eventually succeeded Richard Kempa as Editor in 1991. John assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief of IJSE in 2007 in part as a result of the Journal’s expansion to cope with the growing demand for publication!
Under John’s leadership as Editor-in-Chief (a position shared with Jan van Driel since the start of 2016) IJSE is now ranked amongst the world’s leading science education journals.
Throughout John’s tenure, IJSE has remained true to its mission of publishing truly international research. John, I am sure, will also agree he has been more than ably supported by the Board of Executive Editors, and the wider Editorial Board <http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=tsed20>.
John’s first major venture in science education research was in the field of ‘students’ alternative conceptions’ with the late Roger Osborne. This evolved into a focus on models and modelling, major elements in the nature of science and hence in science education, with a particular focus on visualisation and multi-media representation. John is now paying increasing attention to informal sources of knowledge e.g. science centres, internet, TV and video, popular books about science and (I am delighted to say) will continue to pursue this interest in his role of Editor of IJSE ‘Part B’ – Communication and Public Engagement <http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rsed20/current>. John also received NARST’s Outstanding Contribution to Science Education award in 2003.
On a personal note, I would like to say it has been a privilege and an honour to work with John (for 17 years!) on IJSE. I am, sure this is a sentiment shared by many in the field.
On behalf of everyone at Routledge/Taylor & Francis, we extend our thanks and gratitude to John, and all our best wishes for now and the future.