The Department carries out educational research and development in the areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, earth and environmental sciences and life sciences, as well as in multidisciplinary areas such as science and technology. Most of the activities are carried out in grades 7-12. Recently, work in mathematics, science and technology education has been extended to grades K-6, as well as to introductory science and mathematics at the tertiary level.

The wide scope of disciplinary domains under one roof enables the creation of multidisciplinary research, development and implementation programs, such as the Rothschild-Weizmann program (described below), as well as fruitful interactions among faculty transcending disciplines and non-disciplinary aspects, such as the pedagogical content knowledge of teachers.