ERME: History, aims and current organization
During the weekend of 2-4 May 1997, representatives from 16 European countries met in Osnabrueck, Germany, to establish a new society, ERME, to promote communication, cooperation and collaboration in mathematics education research in Europe. The foundation of this Society took place in CERME 1, in 1999, also in Osnabrueck. The communicative/cooperative/collaborative nature of this society is reflected in the following activities:
1. The Society organises conferences with a wide spectrum of themes to profit from the rich European diversities, summer schools where experienced researchers work together with beginners, and other thematic activities.
2. The Society fosters and supports cooperative activities on common themes, topics, interests, aimed at: broadening understanding going beyond local contexts to enhance knowledge and understanding in scientific areas; finding out what research is going on in different places in Europe which might benefit from wider investigation; identifying key areas for research areas of scientific interest or concern which should be a major focus for collaborative research on a wider scale; bringing together areas of expertise drawing on expertise in related areas to broaden scientific knowledge.
3. The Society aims to enable communication of information to enhance the visibility and availability of European research on mathematics education (in Europe and all over the world). Media of communication include proceedings, journals, newsletters, books, the internet, web sites, video-conferences, interactive CD-ROMs, virtual groups.
4. The Society supports graduate students, thus preparing researchers in mathematics education through conferences, summer schools, provision of information, student and teacher exchanges, post doctoral opportunities, and inter-European collaboration on thesis presentation.
5. The Society also supports other activities that help to achieve the objectives of communication, cooperation and collaboration between members.
The directing body of the Society is the ERME Board.
Since February 2001 to March 2003, the members of this Board were: Ole Bjorqvist (Finland), Paolo Boero (Italy) (Coordinator), Marianna Bosch (Spain), Elmar Cohors-Fresenborg (Germany), Konrad Krainer (Austria), Graham Littler (United Kingdom), Pearla Nesher (Israel), Jarmila Novotna (Czech Rep.), and Julianna Szendrei (Hungary).
During the last Conference the ERME Board has been partially renewed, the actual members are: Ole Bjorqvist (Finland), Paolo Boero (Italy) (Coordinator), Marianna Bosch (Spain), Elmar Cohors-Fresenborg (Germany), Barbara Jaworski (Norway), Jean-Baptiste Lagrange (France), Graham Littler (United Kingdom), Pearla Nesher (Israel) and Ewa Swodoba (Poland).
Former CERME Conferences were held in Osnabrueck, Germany (1999) and Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic (2001).
