RECSAM 50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book

109 RECSAM, as I see It 10 Dr. Lourdes C. Arañador Academic Affairs Director John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Iloilo City, Philippines I am indeed very grateful to SEAMEO RECSAM for my three years stay at the international center. My stay at RECSAM was very rewarding in terms of my professional career as a science and mathematics teacher. It had contributed a very signi fi cant role to what I have achieved in my life as an educator, a researcher and an academician. After my stint at RECSAM, I was designated as Vice-President for Academic Affairs at the West Visayas State University and three years later I became the 5 th president of the same University. RECSAM has given me exposure to various international and intellectual gatherings,workshops, seminarsandconferences in countries like Japan, Canada, and New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia to mention a few. My warmest congratulations to SEAMEO RECSAM on its 50 th Anniversary Celebration. The quality training that you have provided had made a meaningful difference in the lives of many educators transforming and inspiring them to become effective and ef fi cient mentors and leaders in the fi eld of science and mathematics. Dr. Wahyudi Director SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics, Yogyakarta, Indonesia May 2006 was a memorable time when I had to live miles away from my family to join SEAMEO RECSAM as a R&D Specialist. Indeed, all my colleagues at the Centre were my family as well, SEAMEO RECSAM has become my second home. The way we solved problems was uni fi ed, our passion discussing issues on science and mathematics education never dimmed. I believe that developing science and mathematics education cannot be accomplished quickly, it is a continuing process which always moves and improves. It is an honour for me to express the congratulations and good wishes to commemorate SEAMEO RECSAM’s 50 th Anniversary. Observing the growth of the Centre into the entity that it is today has such a powerful in fl uence on science and mathematics education is truly exhilarating. On behalf of SEAMEO QITEP in Mathematics’ Board and Staff, I congratulate SEAMEO RECSAM for its 50 th Anniversary and looking forward to SEAMEO RECSAM’s greatness for years to come. Dr. Jon A. Scaife School of Education, University of Shef fi eld, United Kingdom I have been fortunate to visit RECSAM several times to conduct workshops and participate in CoSMEdevents. Each visit has beenaprofessional and personal pleasure. The cosmopolitan constituency and the collegiality of the events have been richly rewarding. I have learned much from stimulating conference contributors, from enquiring workshop participants and from the input of RECSAM’s staff. It has been very encouraging to fi nd interest, enthusiasm and curiosity about constructivist ideas among science and mathematics educators whom I have met through RECSAM events. That this was followed up by enquiries from workshop participants after they had returned to their ‘day jobs’ was even more rewarding and an indication that the work of RECSAM has the potential to develop and enrich practice in the future and far a fi eld. My only regret is in being unable to attend more RECSAM events than I have managed. Many congratulations on your Golden Anniversary!