Friedrich W. Hesse

Friedrich W. Hesse serves as Executive Director of the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) and Scientific Vice-President of the German Leibniz Association. Since October 2020, he has been the scientific director of the "Center of Advanced Technology for Assisted Learning and Predictive Analytics" (CATALPA) at FernUniversität Hagen. Since 1990, he has held the Chair of the Department for Applied Cognitive Psychology and Media Psychology at the University of Tuebingen.

Dr. Hesse studied psychology at the Universities of Marburg and Düsseldorf, received his doctorate at RWTH Aachen, and qualified as Professor of Psychology at the University of Goettingen. His academic journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding the intersection of psychology, media, and education.

Professor Hesse's research focuses on fundamental principles of individual and cooperative knowledge acquisition and knowledge exchange with new media. He explores the practical implementation of concepts for virtual learning and teaching, with particular interest in how digital technologies can enhance educational experiences. His work spans cognitive psychology, media psychology, and educational technology, examining how people learn in digital environments and how to optimize these processes.

Throughout his career, Hesse has initiated and led significant research projects, including the first Virtual Ph.D. program funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), the DFG-Priority program "Net-based Knowledge Communication," and the Leibniz-ScienceCampus "Informational Environments" in Germany. He also leads the DFG-Research Group "Analysis and Promotion of Effective Process of Learning and Instruction."

Professor Hesse previously served as Director at the Laboratoire Europeén de Recherche sur les Apprentissages et les Nouvelles Technologies (LERANT) from 1995 to 1997, demonstrating his long-standing international engagement in educational technology research. His leadership positions reflect his significant contributions to the field of knowledge media and educational psychology.