Call for Papers

NARST Centennial Special Issue of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching

Centennial of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching in 2028:

Looking Back, Taking Stock, and Envisioning the Future

Special Issue Co-Editors

• Okhee Lee, New York University, USA
• Julie A. Luft, University of Georgia, USA
• Daniel Morales-Doyle, University of Illinois Chicago, USA
• Umesh Ramnarain, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
• Valeria M. Cabello, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Assistant to the Co-Editors

• Paulo A. C. Loureiro, University of Georgia, USA

Context and Purpose of the Special Issue

As the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) approaches its centennial celebration in 2028, it is time for the science education research community to reflect on the role of research in improving science education in the past and present and to envision possible futures. The Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST), since 1963, has been a key venue for research that has defined, guided, and transformed the field of science education. To commemorate NARST’s centennial, JRST is planning a special issue called “NARST Centennial Special Issue.” This special issue both honors and critiques the field’s past to celebrate its accomplishments and raise questions about its future. The target timeline for publication of the special issue is November 2027, aligning with preparations for the 2028 NARST centennial events.

Scope of the Special Issue

This special issue will address a broad scope of research topics or areas. It will reflect on the work that has shaped the field of science education over the past century, take stock of the present time, and envision bold directions that lie ahead.

The special issue anticipates papers from a wide range of theoretical or conceptual, methodological, and policy or practice perspectives in science education, including:

• historical perspectives,
• critical perspectives,
• literature reviews,
• meta-analyses,
• methodological advancements,
• syntheses of consequential research, or
• provocative or forward leaning position papers.

The special issue encourages submissions made by author teams that represent intergenerational career stages, multidisciplinary theoretical or methodological approaches, global views, and historically underrepresented groups in NARST and the field. The special issue considers science education in broader historical contexts, including how the field has been entangled with power relations.

Submission of Extended Abstracts

Extended abstracts will be used to select a potential set of full manuscripts for consideration for publication in JRST and inclusion in the special issue. For extended abstracts, the following materials are required:

• A 2-3 page, single-spaced abstract (up to 1,500 words). References, figures, or tables are not included in the page total or word count.
• A 2-page, single-spaced letter (up to 1,000 words) explaining how each of the authors and their combined composition can contribute to the article, and how the article contributes to the special issue, NARST, and the field.

Submit extended abstracts to Paulo A. C. Loureiro (NARST100@uga.edu) by March 15, 2026. Send any questions to the Co-Editors of the special issue, Okhee Lee (olee@nyu.edu), Julie A. Luft (jaluft@uga.edu), Daniel Morales-Doyle (moralesd@uic.edu), Umesh Ramnarain (uramnarain@uj.ac.za), and Valeria M. Cabello (vmcabello@uc.cl). The editorial team of the special issue will conduct the reviews of extended abstracts to determine their alignment with the call. Having an extended abstract accepted does not mean that the article will be published in the special issue or JRST.

Submission of Full Manuscripts

Follow JRST Author Guidelines.

Be sure to submit your manuscript to the special issue “NARST centennial special issue.”

NARST Centennial Special Issue Tentative Timeline