The Rural and Small Schools Conference has made a special effort to address the needs that pertain to science educators in rural and small schools. This publication presents the proceedings from the 1988 science education section of the conference. The content of the conference deals with a diversity of topics. The proceedings include a preface and abstracts of papers from seven sessions dealing with the following topics: the needs of teachers in rural school districts in Kansas; improving science education in rural schools; science teaching equipment; science teacher preparation and networking; adult science education; computer science education; creation and evolution; career education; cooperative learning; and student research. (CW)