STEP - Science and Technology in the European Periphery

Michael Matthews was awarded the Joseph H. Hazen Educational Prize at the annual meeting of the
History of Science Society, which took place in early November in Montreal Canada.

The Joseph H. Hazen Education Prize is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to the teaching of history of science. Educational activities recognized by the award are construed in the broadest sense and include the following: classroom teaching (K-12, undergraduate, graduate, or extended education), mentoring of young scholars, museum work, journalism, organization and administration of educational programs, influential writing, educational research, innovation in the methodology of instruction, preparation of pedagogical materials, or public outreach through non-print media.

Previous recipients of the prize, especially known to educators, include:
Gerald Holton (1998), James Rutherford (1998), Stephen Brush (2001) and Falk Riess (2004).

The prize committee's citation read:

The 2010 Joseph Hazen Prize goes to Dr. Michael Matthews, Associate Professor of
Education at the University of New South Wales, Australia. More than any other single
individual, Michael Matthews deserves credit for instilling the History (and Philosophy) of
Science in Science Education.

Dr. Matthews has written or edited ten books that address the history and philosophy of
science and its role in science education. As one of his recommenders wrote, three are
particularly relevant to this award. Science Teaching: The Role of History and Philosophy
of Science has served as a touchstone for research that teachers and scholars conduct in the
history and philosophy of science as it relates to science education. Time for Science
Education: How the History and Philosophy of Pendulum Motion can Contribute to Science
Literacy formed the basis for the International Pendulum Project and associated
publications. Finally, The Scientific Background to Modern Philosophy has sold an enviable
36,000 copies and introduced numerous humanities students to modern philosophy s roots in
science. His numerous journal articles and book chapters have addressed the history and
philosophy of science, science education, and the philosophy of education.
As a visiting fellow in Philosophy at Florida State University in 1987, Matthews initiated
the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group, and he served as the
group s Founding President. He is also President of the Teaching Commission of the
Division of History of Science and Technology of the International Union of History and
Philosophy of Science. Matthews served as the Founding Editor for Science & Education:
Contributions from the History and Philosophy of Science, a journal that will soon enter its
twentieth year. To quote from another of his many recommenders: There has been no
better friend or booster of the history of science, stressing that it has a vital role to play in
educating young people, than Michael Matthews. And he has preached this gospel across
the world, not just in America or in his homeland of Australia .

Michael Matthews has provided a brief autobiographical account: A Fortunate Life: The
Philosophical Formation of a Science Teacher that outlines some key steps in his academic journey
from high school science teacher to receipt of the Hazen Prize. This can be downloaded at the
bottom of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia web page:
http://www.pesa.org.au/03mee.htm