Ernst Seidl

Ernst Seidl is a Professor at the Institute of Art History at the University of Tübingen and has served as Director of the Museum of the University of Tübingen (MUT) since October 2008. As a faculty member of the Faculty of Humanities, he holds a chair at the Institute of Art History since 2016 and founded the interdisciplinary master's profile 'Museum & Collections' at the University of Tübingen with support from the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg.

Seidl's research spans museology, university collections, architectural history, and material culture studies. His work focuses on how university collections serve as resources for research and teaching, the role of objects as knowledge media, political architecture, building and space typology, urban structures, iconography, and structural questions of space. He has been instrumental in developing object-scientific approaches to complement traditional image science methodologies.

His scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of museum practice, academic research, and educational methodology. The publications reveal an increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in connecting art history with scientific collections, medical history, paleontology, and mathematical models. His work on building typology has established a systematic framework for understanding architectural forms across historical periods.

• Nomination for the teaching award of the state of Baden-Württemberg (2004)

As Director of MUT, Seidl oversees approximately 80 scientific collections and has been actively involved in numerous academic networks and committees. He co-founded the doctoral program 'Theory of Balance' with Eckart Goebel and Guido Zurstiege and has supervised numerous student projects through the 'MAMMUT' initiative where students capture, digitize, and create exhibitions. His leadership extends to various boards including the Friends of MUT Society, the Society for University Collections, and the Honorary Commission of the University of Tübingen.

Seidl directs the Museum of the University of Tübingen (MUT), which serves as an interfaculty central institution housing approximately 80 scientific collections. He has been instrumental in developing the interdisciplinary master's profile 'Museum & Collections' and has established the 'Invited Artist' program, creating a dynamic space for contemporary artistic engagement with academic collections. His work with the 'MAMMUT' project has transformed how students interact with and document university collections, creating innovative approaches to collection management and presentation.