Keynote Abstract/Speakers Mathematical Literacy Around the World Professor Kaye Stacey                                                                  Melbourne Graduate School of Education                                      University of Melbourne ABSTRACT: The OECD international program of assessment of reading, scientific and mathematical literacy, PISA, defines mathematical literacy as "an individual’s capacity to identify and understand the role that mathematics plays in the world, to make well-founded judgments, and to engage in mathematics in ways that meet the needs of that individual’s current and future life as a constructive, concerned and reflective citizen."  Since 2000, PISA has tested the mathematical literacy of 15 year old students from around the world. Now, in 2009, there are 67 participating countries. In this presentation, I will survey some of the most interesting results from the PISA mathematical literacy assessments, associated surveys and related analyses. I will also give my personal interpretations of the implications of these results for the improvement of mathematics literacy in schools and school systems. PROFILE: Kaye Stacey is Foundation Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Melbourne and the leader of the Science and Mathematics Education cluster.  She works as a researcher, primary and secondary teacher educator, supervisor of graduate research and as an adviser to governments.  She has written many practically-oriented books and articles for mathematics teachers as well as producing a large set of research articles. Professor Stacey’s research interests centre on mathematical problem solving and the mathematics curriculum, particularly the challenges which are faced in adapting to the new technological environment.  She is currently a member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. Her research work is renowned for its high engagement with schools. Her doctoral thesis from the University of Oxford, UK, is in number theory. Prof. Kaye Stacey’s website: http://staff.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/~kayecs/     The Challenges Ahead for Research and Development on Conceptual Change in Science Professor David Treagust                                                                   Science and Mathematics Education Centre                                       Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies                                                        Faculty of Engineering, Science and Computing                                   Curtin University of Technology ABSTRACT: Conceptual change views of teaching and learning processes in science, and also in various other content domains, have played a significant role in research on teaching and learning as well as in instructional design since the late 1970s.  Conceptual change perspectives still have the potential to significantly improve instructional practice so long as conceptual change views are further developed.  However, it becomes also evident that actual practice is far from what conceptual change perspectives propose and that change of this practice continues to be a rather difficult and long-lasting process.  In this presentation, four challenges for future research and development in conceptual change at theoretical, methodological and practical levels are identified with a deliberate emphasis on their contribution to improve instructional practice. PROFILE: David Treagust is Professor of Science Education at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia where he teaches courses in campus-based and international programs related to teaching and learning science.  His research interests include understanding students’ ideas about science concepts and how these ideas relate to conceptual change, the design of curricula and teachers’ classroom practices. He is a member of the Australian National Advisory Committee for Program for International Student Assessment, was President of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (1999-2001), and is currently Managing Director of the Australasian Science Education Research Association. Prof. David Treagust’s website: http://www.smec.curtin.edu.au/staff/treagust.cfm