Research perspectives on culturally sensitive science education

Issues of culture and world view, and their impact on students' learning of science, have become increasingly important to science teachers. This paper provides a review of the development of science education research perspectives on culture and multiculturalism within the science classroom. The review draws on cross-disciplinary sources for its understanding and examines the work of Western and non-Western science education researchers. Reflections on the literature provide an insight into the Australian cross-cultural situation as the author considers the effect of culture on her own practices as a science educator and in a multicultural classroom.