Manuela Glaser

Dr. Manuela Glaser is a Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media (IWM) in Tübingen, Germany, where she has been a core member of the Realistic Depictions lab since January 2007. Her work bridges cognitive psychology and museum education, focusing on how visitors process historical reconstructions and uncertain information through digital media.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Psychology (2010) from the University of Tübingen, with a dissertation on hybrid documentary formats in archaeological television, and a Diploma in Psychology (2006) from the same institution specializing in pedagogical and media psychology.

Glaser's research centers on cognitive mechanisms in informal learning environments, particularly examining how spatial audio, VR applications, and visual-verbal cueing influence attention and knowledge acquisition in museum contexts. She investigates the processing of uncertainty in archaeological reconstructions and the role of reception goals in virtual experiences, frequently employing eye-tracking methodologies to capture real-time cognitive responses.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward immersive technologies, with increasing emphasis on spatial sound design (2022–2025) and uncertainty communication in 3D reconstructions (2019–2023). Her work consistently applies cognitive psychology principles to museum education, demonstrating how multimedia design choices directly impact learning outcomes in historical contexts.

No scientific awards are documented in the provided materials.

Glaser actively contributes to major research projects including Historical Sounds (2022–2025), which explores spatial audio in VR tugboat simulations, and Digital Materialities (2021–2024), investigating digital versus physical exhibition objects. She has organized international conferences like Exhibiting the Sound of History (2024) and frequently presents at EARLI and IGEL conferences.

As a key researcher in the Realistic Depictions lab, she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to develop evidence-based frameworks for museum technology, currently leading studies on virtual reality applications for historical soundscapes and 3D reconstruction design principles.