Katja Maaß

Prof. Dr. Katja Maaß is Professor and Director of the International Centre for STEM Education (ICSE) at Freiburg University of Education, where she has been affiliated since 2004. She leads the Institute for Mathematical Education Freiburg and coordinates pan-European STEM initiatives. Her academic trajectory includes a doctorate under Prof. Gabriele Kaiser (2003), secondary school teaching experience (1995-2003), and foundational studies in mathematics, biology, and computer science (1986-1993).

Research Focus: Maaß pioneers work in mathematical modeling, inquiry-based learning, and interdisciplinary STEM education. Her research examines how mathematics can address societal challenges like sustainability and equity, while developing frameworks for teacher training and classroom implementation. She emphasizes real-world applications and cross-curricular connections between mathematics, technology, and environmental education.

Publication Trends: Her scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on practical educational innovation. Recent works explore technology integration (3D printing, AI), pandemic-era teaching adaptations, and sustainability education. Earlier publications established foundations in modeling competencies, differentiated instruction, and motivational frameworks, reflecting her career-long commitment to bridging theory and classroom practice.

Major Projects & Leadership: As principal investigator, she coordinates significant European initiatives including:

• ICSE Academy (2022-2025): Cross-border STEM teacher development
• MOST (2020-2023): Open schooling community engagement
• STEMkey (2020-2023): Competency-based STEM teaching
• MaSDiV (2017-2020): Diversity-responsive pedagogy
• PRIMAS (2010-2013): Inquiry-based learning scaling

She directs ICSE's international collaborations and oversees development of open-access teaching materials for K-12 mathematics.