Towards the reform of science teaching in Spain: the social and personal relevance of junior secondary school science projects for a socially responsible understanding of science

This article describes aspects of more than a decade of research and implementation of cross-curriculum themes as part of the curriculum for secondary school students in Spain. The educational reform described is an attempt to develop a more socially responsible education, using what, for Spain, has been a highly novel breaking down of subject barriers as a way of preparing young adults for life as citizens. It provides other investigators in the field with a commentary on some of the theoretical and practical issues encountered in developing similar projects.