DEAR READERS AND WRITERS!

The Journal of Baltic Science Education (JBSE) is a relatively new journal in the field of science education. Nevertheless it has already had a strong position amongst the other journals of that area. This high quality scholarly journal seems to be a bridge between the Eastern pedagogy and the Western education. In addition it revives the old educational tradition of the Baltic countries and Scandinavia. The papers from the other parts of Europe are also welcome. I am a chemist. Chemistry education is an essential part of the science education. However the high school Chemistry is in danger now. Even it was supposed that Chemistry would have the future of Latin and Greek – languages once widely studied in the European high schools. Will the Chemistry longer generate the excitement that it used to in earlier times – in 19th and in early 20th centuries? Can you imagine people queuing in the street to hear a public lecture on chemistry today? It was even in Bulgaria in the 1920's. Then students and other people entered the lecture halls to enjoy the talks delivered by Professor Assen Zlatarov from the University of Sofia, well-known organic and bioorganic chemist. Today it is not the case. Chemistry has become a victim of its own success. This is not to say it loses its importance; together with its concepts, techniques and traditions it is being used by emerging areas like material science, environmental studies or biology. The principle goal of the Journal of Baltic Science Education is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning science in all school levels, including the university one, and to raise the status and image of science education. It is of importance for whole the society and its future development. As a rule three are the main functions of any scholarly journal: i) to produce, disseminate and exchange scientific knowledge; ii) to rank research in order to assist the distribution of research funds; iii) to facilitate the employment and promotion of the people involved in science. The Editorial Board and the Editor-in-Chief Professor Vincentas Lamanauskas have the capacity and ambitions to realize such a difficult task. Once I read that the act of publishing had been referred as a gift exchange within a community of like-minded people – where the gift, freely given, would generate esteem and professional advancement. We do hope such gifts will be given to our readers and writers by our journal as well. So, don't miss them and be our true friends!