SCIENCE-EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC-OF-IRELAND - AT FIRST AND 2ND LEVELS

In recent years, the geoscience community around the world has been fa ced with a new series of critical problems associated with the managem ent of waste and protection of the environment. One of the most pressi ng issues facing our civilization today is the production of enough sc ience capability in geology, hydrogeology, engineering, and biology to meet the demand for the solution of these problems. Many countries ar e developing special programs similar to those in the United States of the National Academy of sciences, American Geological Institute, Geol ogical Society of America, and the American Association of Petroleum G eologists. The editors of Environmental Geology have decided to begin a series of articles for the ''Views and News'' section of the journal on programs of this type being implemented around the world. The firs t of this series is by geoscientist Breda Naughton, Assistant Chief Ex ecutive for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, titled ''Science Education in the Republic of ireland: At First and Second L evels,'' which follows.