Simiao Yu

Simiao Yu serves as a Research Fellow supporting the Directorial Board at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Media | Georg Eckert Institute in Braunschweig, Germany, having joined the institute in December 2018 initially as a student assistant before progressing to research assistant and ultimately her current role since May 2021.

Her academic credentials include:

• Studies in art history, art education, and Chinese studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich
• Diploma in fine arts (2020) from Braunschweig University of Art
• Postgraduate degree (Meisterschuelerin, 2021) from Braunschweig University of Art under Professor Natalie Czech, specializing in photography, installation, and sculpture

Yu's research critically examines intersections of race and gender through the lens of visual semiotics, focusing on identity construction in educational contexts. Her work investigates how visual representations in learning materials perpetuate or challenge systemic racism, with particular attention to the ambiguity of visual language and its pedagogical implications.

Analysis of her 2020-2024 publications reveals sustained engagement with racism in educational materials, demonstrating methodological consistency in analyzing textbook representation while evolving toward practical guideline development. Her work bridges art theory, critical race studies, and educational policy, showing increasing influence in international educational discourse as evidenced by UNESCO collaboration.

Yu actively translates research into practice through knowledge transfer initiatives including her April 2023 guest lecture 'Rassismus im Schulbuch – Unesco Leitlinien und Empfehlungen' which disseminated anti-racist framework implementation strategies to educational practitioners.