Institution
 | The Association for Science Education (ASE) is a professional association for teachers of science based in the UK. The Patron of the Association is HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The ASE has more than 15,000 members and was formed in 1963 by the merger of the Science Master's Association and the Association of Women Science Teachers. |
ASE can trace its origins back to 1900 with a letter written by four science masters from Eton College proposing a conference for Science Masters in Public Schools. Interestingly, one of the issues raised in the letter - as now - was "the attainment of at least some clearer method of the teaching of Natural Science than exists at present, and …. by taking united action, do something towards emphasizing the value of Science as a means of education". The first Annual Meeting was held in January 1901 which then led to the formation of the Association of Public School Science Masters. The primary goal of the ASE is still to improve the teaching of science.
Membership of the Association is now of the order of 15 000, with a broad spread of membership from primary and secondary teachers, to technicians, those involved in Initial Teacher Education, and also more than 2.000 student members. The Annual Conference now attracts in excess of 3.000 people and ASE has an enviable reputation worldwide. ASE is also a publisher. As well as its main journals, Education in Science (EiS), Primary Science, School Science Review and Science Teacher Education, ASE publishes new titles every year.