Catalina Hamacher

Dr. Catalina Hamacher is a researcher at the Institute of Educational Science, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen. Her work focuses on inclusion, (de)institutionalization, and reconstructive social research in early childhood and primary education.

• Education: PhD in Educational Science (University of Paderborn, 2020).

Her research examines processes of inclusion in preschool and primary sectors, dis/ability studies, all-day education, and praxeological sociology of knowledge. She investigates care practices in inclusive primary schools, children's perspectives on school environments, and institutional collaboration for equitable outcomes.

Recent publications highlight democracy and diversity in childcare, all-day education frameworks, and professionalization challenges in inclusive settings. Themes span educational equity, child-centered pedagogy, and systemic collaboration.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Poster Prize, IZfB (2023)
  • Aloys Fischer Research Prize (2021)
  • University of Paderborn Dissertation Prize (2020)

She teaches courses on transition processes in inclusion, care practices, and diversity in educational spaces. Her lab, the Childhood Research Working Group, explores participatory practices and institutional dynamics.