Incorporation of HPS/NOS content in school and teacher education programmes in Europe

Abstract

A large number of notices from the FP7, The Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013), the main European instrument for research funding, are directed at schools. In its section Science in Society, FP7 funds projects aimed at promoting scientific education, curiosity of the young towards science and the advance of scientific culture with the public. Great importance is given to the contribution that comes from studies of the history, sociology and philosophy of science with projects aimed at the improvement of teaching methodology of scientific disciplines, in order to promote young people’s interest in science and technology with a positive outlook on science and scientific careers. In this chapter, we illustrate the current situation of European policies concerning the relationship between science education and the history and philosophy of science (HPS) at the level of the central EU institutions, as well as in each nation with particular reference to Italy. Moreover, we provide an overview - in several European countries - of the concrete experiences of attempting to incorporate HPS in science curricula.