Ulrika Ferner

Ulrika Ferner is a Scientist and PhD student at the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IWM) in Tübingen, Germany, where they have been working in the Multimodal Interaction Lab since February 2023. Their current project, "Experience-based digital access to research in a natural history museum", is a collaboration with the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart to develop mixed-reality applications that introduce visitors to insect evolution and biodiversity, with a focus on fostering empathy and emotional connections to highlight the importance of insects.

Education:

• M.Sc. in Biology & Science Communication and Society from Leiden University (2019-2021)
• B.Sc. in Molecular Biotechnology from Heidelberg University (2014-2018)

Ulrika's primary research interests lie in informal education, specifically biology and biodiversity education. They investigate how immersive media technologies can be leveraged to create engaging and motivating learning experiences in museum contexts. Their work emphasizes exhibition design that fosters emotional connections to subject matter, particularly aimed at changing perspectives to appreciate the ecological significance of insects.

Their recent work centers on the development of digital access to museum research through mixed-reality applications, as evidenced by their 2024 presentation at the Digital Education Day. This research falls within educational technology and museum studies, exploring how digital experiences enhance visitor engagement and understanding of biodiversity. The focus on empathy and emotional connections represents an innovative approach in science communication for natural history museums.

Ulrika Ferner has not been listed as receiving any scientific awards in the provided information.

Ulrika is currently engaged in the collaborative project "Experience-based digital access to museum research" (2023-2026) with the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart. There is no mention of them advising graduate students or securing individual research grants in the available materials.

They are an active member of the Multimodal Interaction Lab at the IWM, which focuses on the intersection of knowledge construction and multimodal interaction to design innovative educational technologies. Their team works on creating immersive learning environments that promote deep understanding and emotional engagement with scientific content.