ICASE - International Council of Associations for Science Education

Excerpts from the citation made by the ICASE President on the occasion of the presentation of the ICASE Distinguished Service Award to Dr Robert E. Yager (at the opening of the "Globalisation of Science Education" Conference, Seoul, Republic of Korea, May 1997: "It is my very great privilege to acknowledge an individual who has been selected to receive the ICASE Disinguished Service Award - the highest ICASE award honouring the achievements of an individual in the field of international science education. This individual joins an illustrious group of science educators who have each made their own remarkable contributions to science education at an international level. I am pleased to announce that the 1996 ICASE Distinguished Service Award is to be awarded to Dr Robert E. Yager.
Dr Yager's career as a science educator spans a period of more than 40 years - a period in which science education has been characterised by significant and far reaching changes and developments. Throughout this exciting period of re-defining science teaching and learning, Bob Yager has been a prominent figure in inspiring new thinking about how best to engage students in experiences of understanding science in the context of their everyday lives. It is his clear vision of science as it relates to technology and to society that has been the driving force underlying his outstanding efforts to promote science curriculum so that it moves out beyond textbooks and classrooms to connect with the demands and challenges that people face in the context of contemporary society. The remarkable achievements of Dr Yager, the Professor of Science Education at The University of Iowa, have been recognised by the conferral of many USA awards, including the Distinguished Service to Science Education award by the National Science Teachers Association, the Presidential Award by the National Science Supervisors Association, and the Governor's Science Medal for Science Teaching. His high standing in the educational community has been
recognised through his appointments and elections to prestigious US educational organisations and projects. His talents and contributions are well known beyond his own country, however. He is in high demand as a speaker, contributor and consultant in many, many countries throughout the world. His prolific writings have been appreciated by countless students, teachers, researchers and administrators in many regions of the world, and have been a significant catalyst for change in educational practice - particularly in the area of STS (science-technology-society) education. It is a fitting tribute to the high international regard in which Dr Yager is held, that he has been appointed as the organiser of this important conference on the theme of "Globalisation of Science Education: Moving Towards Worldwide Standards". In addition to acknowledging his extensive accomplishments, I would like to refer to his outstanding qualities as a person. Bob continues to be a source of inspiration to all of us involved in science education. Classroom teachers, teachers-in-training, educational researchers and administrators alike, through our contact with this man, have been encouraged and enriched as a result. His genuine interest in and commitment to facilitating the work of those involved in science education at all levels have left a special mark on all of us. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I present the 1996 ICASE Distinguished Service Award to Dr Robert Yager in recognition of his outstanding contributions to international science education."

Professor Samuel T Bajah, Nigeria
Recipient, 1993 ICASE Distinguished Service Award

Mrs Sheila M Haggis, UK (deceased 1995)
Recipient, 1992 ICASE Distingished Service Award