GLOBALISATION IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Abstract

Chemistry and chemistry education are closely related, and so is research in the two fields. While, a major goal of education research is the improvement of chemistry education, its impact on the practice of chemistry education has remained relatively low. The vehicles for publishing results of research are international and national journals. Publishing in established peerreviewed international journals is a very hard job. This is a necessity for a young field which needs its academic reputation to be enhanced, and not to be accused as easy research. For the non-native English authors, the language barrier is very serious. On the other hand, concern should cause the fact that even the most prestigious international journals are of a narrow national character. A survey of the subject of practical (laboratory) work in chemistry in two journals (‘The Journal of Chemical Education’ and ‘University Chemistry Education’), revealed that: while most non-American authors cite in considerable proportion American sources, the American authors cite as a rule only American sources. The Editorial concludes by concentrating on CERAPIE/CERP, and by stressing the need to support, expand, and spread new electronic, freely distributed through the Internet international peerreviewed journals. [Chem. Educ. Res. Pract.: 2003, 4, 3-10]