Natalie Denk

Mag. Natalie Denk, MA is Head of the Center for Applied Game Studies at the University for Continuing Education Krems (currently on maternity leave). She holds roles as Course Director and Research Associate within the Education, Arts and Architecture faculty. Her research focuses on game-based education, educational game design, gender/diversity in digital culture, qualitative social research, and media education. She leads multiple EU and national projects like FROG (2024), CosTechPlay (2023-2025), and StreamIT! (2020-2022), emphasizing innovation in education through gaming and digital tools.

Her academic work spans textbooks (e.g., 'DAC Journal', 'The Magic of Games'), peer-reviewed articles on interactive storytelling, cultural mediation via escape rooms, and NFT applications in education. She lectures widely on topics like 'Game-Based Education' and 'Informal Learning Spaces', advocating for gaming's role in modern educational landscapes. Projects like E-MINT and Hygiene Adventure Game demonstrate her commitment to practical STEM engagement and public health education.

Notable contributions include developing gamified apps for parent education and telepresence robots in schools. Her work bridges digital innovation with societal challenges, emphasizing inclusivity, creativity, and policy impact.