Mirka Dickel

Mirka Dickel is a Professor and Chair holder of Geography Didactics at the Geographical Institute of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena since October 1, 2011. Prior to this position, she served as Professor of Educational Science specializing in Geography Didactics at the University of Hamburg (2008-2011) and as Academic Councilor for Geography Didactics at the University of Mainz (2006-2008). Her academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to geography education, teacher training, and didactic methodology.

Dr. Dickel completed her teaching qualification for secondary schools (SII/I) in German, English, and Geography at the University of Münster. She earned her doctorate in 'Didactics of Geography' from the Chemisch-Geowissenschaftlichen Fakultät at the University of Jena in 2004 under Prof. Dr. Tilman Rhode-Jüchtern. Before her university career, she worked for ten years as a teacher of German and Geography at the Goethe-Gymnasium in Stolberg (near Aachen).

Her research focuses on geography didactics with an emphasis on phenomenological-hermeneutic lifeworld theory and socially theoretically informed spatial theory. She explores geographical thinking, representation and mediation methods, history of geography education, space theories, socialized human-nature relationships, democracy education, judgment practices in geography education, and the ecology of classroom time. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications, emphasizing ethical and aesthetic dimensions of geography teaching.

Dr. Dickel's recent publications demonstrate a growing interest in virtuality, visualization, embodiment, and the intersection of geography with other disciplines such as philosophy, ethics, and visual arts. Her work increasingly examines digital media in geography education, intersectionality through comic art, and the temporal dimensions of teaching and learning processes. She has developed a distinctive approach that combines phenomenological inquiry with pedagogical practice, creating innovative frameworks for geography education that emphasize critical reflection and ethical engagement.

As an active contributor to academic governance, Dr. Dickel has served as Director of the Geographical Institute (2019-2022), Chair of the Teacher Examination Committee (2011-2023), and leader of the Doktorandenkolleg 'Bildung-Forschung-Dialog' since 2019. She has coordinated several significant projects including the BMBF-funded 'Kompetenzzentren für digitales und digital gestütztes Unterrichten' (2023-2025) and the 'Qualitätsoffensive Lehrerbildung' (PROFJL) initiatives.

Dr. Dickel is deeply involved in teacher education through her supervision, coaching, and workshop offerings focused on conflict resolution, team dynamics, and perfectionism in educational contexts. She leads numerous excursions that serve as living laboratories for her research on spatial awareness and human-environment relationships, including recent trips along the Saale River, to Hamburg, Vienna, and various international locations.