Members of the Science Education European Platform (Seep) met last month in Malta.

Malta's representatives in the Seep network are the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta, the Ninu Cremona Lyceum Complex of Gozo and the Opportunities Aid Foundation, as well as the Institute of Tourism Studies.

Seep is a three-year-long project supported by the European Commission through the Lifelong Learning Programme. The project aims at building a sustainable network for the promotion of European co-operation and innovation in science education at secondary level.

The Seep network is growing through the involvement of new members. It is made up of secondary schools, vocational schools, universities, policy-makers and stakeholders in education that have as part of their direct or indirect mission the future of students of science subjects.

Members from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta, Romania, Germany, Poland, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey form part of the network.

The aims of Seep are to strengthen the European dimension of science education; to improve science education and training quality while improving science careers guidance quality; to improve science teachers and school managers' competencies linked to science education; to increase the production and dissemination of information about good practice in science education, thereby promoting and facilitating the transfer of innovative approaches in science education, making science education in Europe more attractive.

The network envisages a number of activities which include training sessions; the creation of online discussion forums; research in science education; a European Science Day and permanent science exhibitions.

Contact persons for the Seep network in Malta are: Deborah Chetcuti, head, Department of Maths, Science and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malta; Josette Farrugia, senior lecturer in the same department;, and Desiree Scicluna Bugeja, education officer, biology.