IPSO's involvement in the field of science education takes place in two projects: The Israeli-Palestinian Cooperation in Science Education and in a Pilot Science Education Website.
The Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in science education program
IPSO’s Activities in Science Education stem from its mission statement which includes Science Education as one of IPSO’s major fields of activity, as well by participating in The Israeli-Palestinian Cooperation in Science Education, a €2.8 million project launched in July 2003 and terminated recently. It was a cooperative project of the Palestinian Al-Quds University (AQU) and the Israeli office of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (ACBP). They both initiated this cooperation program and were its principal partners.
It could be implemented thanks to generous funding provided by the European Commission, the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (ACB) and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation of New York. Three other distinguished Israeli institutions played significant roles in the program and in the cooperation efforts: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Weizmann Institute of Research and the Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem (BSMJ).
This project stemmed from a shared understanding that given its lack of natural resources, Palestine’s future (like Israel’s) would depend on the development of its human resources and that Science Education is an important component in the development of the young generation to its utmost capacities. Furthermore it was thought that Israeli expertise in the field of Science Education is rich in years and quality, is rather comprehensive and if enlisted could be of great help in particular given the geographic proximity that would serve as an advantage, Finally with Peace in mind it was hoped that a co-operative effort in Science Education would not only promote dialogue but also real partnership for Peace.