The aim of this collection is to inform science educators about current practices in online and distance education: distance-delivered methods for laboratory coursework, the requisite administrative and institutional aspects of online and distance teaching, as well as the relevant educational theory. Delivery of university-level courses through online and distance education can overcome barriers such as geographical location, lecture and lab scheduling, or their job and family commitments, distance delivery offers practical alternatives to traditional on-campus education. The growing recognition and acceptance of distance education, coupled with the rapidly increasing demand for accessibility and flexible delivery of courses, has made distance education a viable and popular option to for many people in meeting their science-educational goals.