معرفی
Sebastian Staacks is a physicist and academic researcher at the 2nd Institute of Physics, RWTH Aachen University, where he has served as an Akademischer Rat (Academic Councillor) since 2017. He holds a PhD in Physics from RWTH Aachen, with a focus on spin dynamics in semiconductors, and has transitioned into a leading role in physics education research and digital learning innovation. He is a core developer of the phyphox app, a widely used open-source tool for smartphone-based physics experiments.
His research interests center on physics education, digital learning tools, and smartphone-based experimentation. He explores how mobile sensors can transform classroom and laboratory instruction, making physics more accessible and engaging. His work bridges experimental physics and pedagogy, emphasizing hands-on, inquiry-based learning through technology.
The recent publications highlight a strong trend toward educational innovation, focusing on collaborative experiments, sensor integration, curriculum alignment, and real-world applications of smartphone physics. These works span mechanics, acoustics, electromagnetism, and fluid dynamics, demonstrating the versatility of mobile devices in science education.
- Georg-Kerschensteiner-Preis (2023)
- RWTH Lecturer Award (2021)
- Falling Walls Winner 2020 (Digital Education)
- Ars-legendi-Fakultätenpreis Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften (2020)
- Lehrpreis der DPG-Arbeitsgemeinschaft Physikalische Praktika (2019)
- Archimedes-Preis (2019)
- Lehrpreis Physik für die beste unterstützende Lehre (2018)
- Fellowship für Innovationen in der digitalen Hochschullehre (2016)
Staacks has been instrumental in advising and developing digital teaching modules and workshops for both university and school educators. He leads numerous teacher training programs and collaborates extensively with physics education groups across Germany and internationally. His work has been supported through grants and fellowships focused on digital university teaching innovations. He is actively involved in outreach, public lectures, and science communication.
He leads and co-leads workshops and training sessions on the use of phyphox in classrooms and laboratories. He is part of a dedicated team at RWTH Aachen, including Christoph Stampfer and Heidrun Heinke, that develops and promotes digital physics education tools. The phyphox project functions as a collaborative lab focused on educational technology and experimental innovation.
