New publication: Elite science education programs in Israel

A new article by doctoral student Amos Lagziel and lab head Miri Yemini has been published in the International Journal of Science Education: “Shaping excellence: a case study of elite science education programs through a Bourdieusian analysis.”

The study examines two elite Israeli science programs — Alpha and Odyssey — through the lens of Bourdieu’s social reproduction theory and Archer’s concept of science capital. Drawing on interviews with 20 experts and 24 policy documents, the authors trace how these programs developed over time and find that while they create real opportunities for gifted students, they fall short on equity, ultimately reproducing social inequalities despite meritocratic aims.