Issues of our time: science, religion, and literacy

Abstract

As we go to press with the first issue of Volume 5 of Cultural Studies of Science Education it is timely to acknowledge the foundational efforts of Wolff-Michael Roth, who served with me for the past 4 years as founding coeditor. During this time Michael pioneered cuttingedge research, including theories and methods and ways of re-presenting research. He worked closely with numerous authors, assisting them to publish their best work in CSSE. Michael Roth’s role as coeditor formally finished with the completion of Volume 4. However, in this special issue Michael returns as guest editor of a cutting edge collection on science and religion. As editor of the first 200 pages of this issue Michael presents 17 articles that explore a topic of international significance from many different standpoints. These articles have the potential to impact thinking about science and religion and associated policies throughout the world. At the same time, the many issues addressed should stimulate scholars to produce further work emerging from the overlaps and interstices between these fields. The issues associated with studies of science and religion reflect diverse standpoints and likely will differ in different parts of the globe. Which science? Which religion? In addition to the articles that comprise the special issue there is a cluster of articles edited by Konstantinos Alexakos that is closely related to those that comprise the articles accepted under Roth’s editorship. This cluster also projects diverse perspectives that originated in David Long’s ethnography of a creationism museum and were elaborated in a forum that opened up the dialogue for others to join.