The San Diego Science Educators Association came into being in the fall of 1986. It was the successor to the Greater San Diego Science Teachers Association, which had been active since the 1960's. The first meeting was called by Dr. Robert Dean, Science Curriculum Coordinator for the San Diego County Office of Education, who brought together science educators from throughout San Diego County to provide support for science education.

This group quickly set out to become the main sponsor of a nascent county-wide conference which was begun in 1984 by Dr. Fran Slowizcek, a science resource teacher with the County Office of Education. With the help of Dr. Vance Mills at San Diego City Schools, and other district coordinators, attendance during the next 10 years at the SDSEA Conference grew from 200 to nearly 3000 attendees. Since then the SDSEA has sponsored a conference every year when the National Science Teachers Association was not holding a conference of its own within 200 miles. October 24, 2009 will be the next local science conference for anyone interested in relevant science professional development. This opportunity is being presented in conjunction with San Diego Computer Using Educators (SDCUE) at their annual "Tech Fair".

SDSEA seeks to honor excellence in our profession. To help accomplish this, SDSEA has held a yearly recognition dinner meeting, since 1985, to give awards for excellence in science education. SDSEA sponsors Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching for Elementary, Middle School, and High School Teachers. SDSEA also recognizes outstanding efforts in the areas of informal science; and university level science with similar awards, granted each year in those categories. Finally, SDSEA recognizes science fair students and their advising teachers with awards for best science fair research done with simple materials.

To further our mission of improving science education, the SDSEA sponsors scholarships for member teachers who need monetary assistance to attend conferences or workshops. Another member service of SDSEA has been to arrange field trips to science related businesses and facilities to help teachers gain background knowledge, and have a good time in the process. Recently we sponsored a field trip to Palm Springs for a behind the scenes tour of the massive wind farms near town, rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, to learn about biomes (complete with dinner at the top), and had a behind the scenes tour of the Living Desert Museum. Another trip is scheduled to the Los Angeles area featuring the La Brea Tar Pits. We also advocate for science education at all levels.

The SDSEA is, and remains, THE professional science education organization in San Diego County, funded by membership support. SDSEA is affiliated with the California Science Teachers Association and the National Science Teachers Association. We invite you to join us in promoting excellence in science education!