The Search for Excellence in Science Education was inaugurated in 1982 to carry out the National Science Foundation's 1981 initiative, Project Synthesis. The Search establishes criteria for excellence and applies them to actual programs in one or several fields each year. In each area the Search identifies hallmarks of excellence in terms of goals, curriculum, instruction, evaluation, and teacher qualifications. This document, the "Criteria for Excellence," and the science exemplars in 16 areas include: kindergarten through sixth grade science; middle/junior high school science; earth science; physical science; biology; chemistry; physics; science/technology/society; environmental education; energy education; inquiry science; science teaching and career awareness; science in non-school settings; preservice elementary teacher education; preservice secondary teacher education; and science supervision. (ML)