معرفی
Prof. Dr. André Frank Zimpel is a Professor of Intellectual Development and Pedagogy for People with Disabilities at the University of Hamburg's Faculty of Education. His primary affiliation is the Department of School and Primary School Pedagogy, Social Pedagogy, and Pedagogy for People with Disabilities and Disadvantages (EW 2). He holds a habilitation in Special Education and Diagnostic Psychology from the University of Bremen and has held visiting professorships at Goethe University Frankfurt and Kiel University.
His research focuses on neurodiversity, neuropsychology, and the cognitive potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities such as Trisomy 21. He leads the Zentrum für Neuro-Diversitäts-Forschung (ZNDF) and has conducted large-scale studies funded by €1.1 million from institutions like the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung. His work emphasizes the societal value of neurodivergent cognition, particularly in collaboration with artificial intelligence.
Zimpel has authored numerous books and articles, including the 2025 monograph Wahnsinnig intelligent, exploring the untapped potentials of neurodivergent minds. His research bridges education, neuroscience, and social policy, advocating for inclusive systems that leverage cognitive diversity.
- Education: Studied Mathematics, Art, Special Education, Psychology, and Neurology in Magdeburg, Leipzig, and Berlin. Earned his Ph.D. in Psychology (1985) and habilitation (1993).
- Grants & Projects: Led studies involving 1,294 participants across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Key projects include Trisomy 21 learning improvement and neurodiversity-attention system research.
- Awards: Karl H. Ditze Prize (2015), First Place Inklusionspreis Niedersachsen, Cornelsen Zukunftspreis (2018), Comenius-EduMedia-Siegel (2019).
- Labs/Teams: Directs the ZNDF and collaborates with the Zirkus Regenbogen project promoting neurodivergent inclusion.
