The 19th Symposium on Chemistry and Science Education continued the long tradition begun in 1981 with the first symposium on chemical education organized by Hans-Jürgen Schmidt. After having had the last symposium in Bremen in 2006, the symposium of 2008 returned to its roots by taking place at the University of Dortmund in May 2008.

The 2008 symposium was titled “Promoting Successful Science Education – The Worth of Science Education Research". This title simultaneously continued and developed discussions of earlier symposia, especially that of 2004, which focused on the aspect of quality in science education research. Quality in this respect is not only a question of high standards in research methodology. Quality in educational research domains must always be a question research's effectiveness in helping to develop teaching and learning practices.