I well remember attending my first ITEA conference in Columbus, Ohio, in March 2002. This was where I had my first encounter with Marc de Vries, one of the founders of the international PATT conferences. I also remember having a conversation with him in the hotel bar one evening, when I asked him why the PATT conferences had never been held in Glasgow, my home city. “Good point,” he said, “Why don’t you organise it for next year?” I remember saying “OK, I will.” I remember then thinking to myself, “Never again have a conversation with Marc de Vries whilst in a bar!” That was 20 years ago and it was one of the most important meetings I have ever had. It quite literally changed my academic life. The 2003 PATT conference was an amazing success and I have, ever since, developed a very strong relationship with Marc who has not only mentored me through my research, supported me through some difficulties with my university, co-edited several books and book chapters with me (and other colleagues), but has also become a dear friend. Marc kindly offered to read my initial transcript of this book and made some helpful observations which I have incorporated. I cannot express enough my sincere thanks for the incredible support and advice he gave to me in the production of this, my first monograph.
I also wish to thank Wendy, my lovely lady, whose husband I have had the privilege of being for many years. Wendy has not only supported my research but carried out and published her own research projects related to technology education as well as many joint projects with me. We worked together for several years on two longitudinal research studies with the European Commission on science and technology education. This gave us the opportunity to visit many European countries and study their science and technology education projects. This book could not have been accomplished without her support and what I refer to as a sprinkling of her fairy dust as she proofreads and sorts out my punctuation, grammar, and very long sentences. Thank you so much Wendy.
I could not have managed to put this book together without the incredible support of Brill. I would especially like to thank John Bennett, Katerina Sofianou and Jolanda Karada who have all been so supportive in this endeavour. Many thanks to you all.
Silly as it may sound, I would also like to thank all the philosophers I have read who have helped bring me to this place. I especially want to give posthumous thanks to Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, Gilbert Simondon and Bernard Stiegler for their wonderful, albeit difficult, philosophical insights, to which I hope I have done justice.