Ten Years Of Latin-American Journal Of Astronomy Education RELEA: Achievements And Challenges For International Astronomy Education Development

Abstract

This study reviews 10 years of Latin-American Journal of Astronomy Education (RELEA), showing that the journal has become a valuable resource for publishing and highlights its pathway as scholarly journal. Furthermore, it is also a call to astronomy education specialists to consolidate their efforts considering similar journals worldwide. Publishing policies of the RELEA and their context are presented in relation to submission, refereeing and publication. The 75 articles published in 18 editions are analyzed and classified. The results showed an acceptance rate of 60.2%; an average of 7.5 articles per year/4.2 per issue. RELEA´s authors are mostly based in Brazil (81.3%); articles target chiefly a school level (university education: 28.0%, high school: 28.0%); their main study focus is learning and teaching (34.7%) and general astronomy content (33.3%). Our results show that compared to other Brazilian journals of education, RELEA had twice as much astronomy articles. In the international scene there has been about a half of astronomy education research, but twice of astronomy in science education research. The challenges related to improve the article submission are discussed: how to increase their number, the submission of Latin American countries, and how to bring in the issues and subjects not addressed until now. It is also encouraged graduate studies, new lines of research in astronomy education, and advertising the journal in universities and schools for professors and teachers. Finally, future possibilities are mentioned given the International Astronomical Union’s development programs.