Team Freiburg

Katja is a researcher, educator and leader of international projects in mathematics and science education. She holds a master’s degree in mathematics and biology, acquired her PhD in mathematics education in 2004 and was awarded professorship in the same year. Her main professional interests are modelling and applications (solving open, realistic problems with the help of mathematics) and inquiry-based science teaching. Her research has been published widely in the most prestigious journals in the field. Next to teaching and research in these fields, her work is characterised by a strong practical and melioristic concern towards advancing science teaching. Katja has successfully coordinated numerous large-scale European projects to foster innovation in STEM education, including award-winning projects like PRIMAS, mascil or COMPASS. She has acted as the German representative in the EC’s working group on science and mathematics education with a particular focus on low achieving students and co-initiated the European STEM Professional Development Centre Network. Katja is also a highly experienced and renowned professional development course instructor of in-service teachers and facilitators in the German-speaking countries and her focus on transferring research into practice is also mirrored in publications directly addressing teachers. Her work is distinguished by both a local and international orientation and she relies on excellent networks to research, policy and practice. As the founding director of ICSE she aims to take European collaboration in STEM education to a next level so as to maximise quality, equality and innovation in day-to-day STEM teaching.

Laura Wanckel has been part of the ICSE team since October 2018 and has served as the vice director since 2020. In this role, she supports Prof. Dr. Katja Maass in managing the Institute, focusing on team leadership, project management, and project administration. Her expertise includes strategic planning and the management of international third-party funded projects such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. By leading the interdisciplinary ICSE team, Laura initiates change processes to make the Institute more agile and adaptable.

With an academic background in Art History, History, Slavic Studies, and Museum Management from the Universities of Dresden and Hamburg, Laura brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work. She is particularly interested in team leadership, new work, people-centered organizational development, and project management, which she pursues with passion and commitment.

Dr. Oliver Straser is Vice Director of the International Centre for STEM Education (ICSE), where he also leads the Research and Design division. He holds the position of Senior Lecturer (Akademischer Oberrat) at the Institute for Mathematics Education at the University of Education Freiburg.

He studied mathematics with a minor in physics at Heidelberg University and subsequently earned his doctorate in pure mathematics at the University of Freiburg under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Soergel. From 2015 to 2019, he worked as a teacher at vocational schools. In 2018, he was seconded to ICSE, became Deputy Director in 2020, and has held a permanent position at the centre since 2024.

His research focuses on innovative approaches to STEM education. A key area of interest is the impact of artificial intelligence on the education sector. This includes analyzing the scientific reasoning capabilities of generative AI systems as well as the development and evaluation of AI-based feedback and assessment tools. He also investigates the effectiveness of extracurricular initiatives to foster enthusiasm for STEM subjects – particularly with regard to gender-specific differences – as well as emerging trends in STEM education. Furthermore, he explores the didactic potential of 3D printing technologies, especially for inclusive and accessible learning environments.

Another central focus of his work is the concept of educational escape rooms. As an expert in this area, Dr. Straser is responsible for the design and implementation of ICSE’s escape activities, including a physical escape room, a portable escape box, and a fully digital escape room.

Dr. Straser has played a leading role in the successful acquisition of various national and international third-party funded projects, contributing significantly to their conceptual development, proposal writing, and implementation.

Elena Schäfer is Executive Project Manager at ICSE and currently managing the Erasmus+ project STEMkey.

Elena joined the PHFR team in 2013 and brought with her professional experience that includes working in adult education and developing educational materials for training programs. She was working in our large-scale international STEM education projects PRIMAS and mascil and from 2016 on she was the project manager for the two KA2 projects IncluSMe and STEM PD Net. Also she was co-responsible for the European STEM Professional Development Centre Network. Elena is the main organiser of ICSEs international conference series ‘ETE – Educating the Educators’ and chair of the third ETE conference. Elena is also experienced in designing and implementing marketing concepts and dissemination plans to promote our project’s aims and activities and brings this expertise into ICSE’s communication with the public.

Elena Schäfer has her Bachelor’s degree in Educational Planning and Instructional Design and a Master’s in Educational studies with the focus on adult education and professional development.

Rahel Brugger has been working at ICSE since July 2022. As part of the content team, she develops and researches materials for students and teachers on 3D printing in STEM education, the connection between math and art, Educational Escape Rooms, and other STEM topics.

After a PhD in mathematics at the University of Göttingen and a postdoctoral position at the TU Dresden, she was initially a scientific volunteer at the Technische Sammlungen Dresden, where she co-curated hands-on exhibitions on the topics of climate change and quantum mechanics, among others, and developed offers around the Erlebnisland Mathematik. At Science & Technologie gGmbH, she then performed chemistry shows at schools, organized “hackdays” and developed offerings such as a workshop with math exhibits, “lunchbox experiments” or a science rally.

Dr. Peter Steurer studied chemistry in Freiburg, Germany, and Montpellier, France. In 2006 he graduated from the University of Freiburg (Diploma). From 2006 to 2010 he worked as a scientist at Freiburg University and the Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF) and received this PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rolf Mülhaupt in Chemistry at the Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry.

In 2011 he started working as a vocational teacher in Offenburg and Wolfach. Besides teaching, he was supervising students at a national science comeptition and was holding the position of safety manager.

Peter has joined the ICSE team in September 2022 and is currently working at the projects MINT4life and Teacher Academy. He is also in charge of the 3-D-printing student lab.

Chrissi Fischer holds undergraduate degrees in History and Politics from the University of Manitoba in Canada. They graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Social Sciences (Global Studies Programme) from the University of Freiburg (Germany) and FLACSO Argentina. Besides their work at ICSE, Chrissi is working in civil society and political movement contexts, as an organizer, counselor and educator.

At ICSE Chrissi works in the public relations sector since 2018. They are currently managing the websites and publishing ICSE’s newsletters.

Alexander Veit has been a trainee office management assistant at the PH Freiburg since 2021. His focus here is on finance, both in public fund management and in commercial accounting management. Prior to this, he completed his business baccalaureate specializing in financial management.

Alexander Veit has been working at ICSE since September 2023 as a support in the management of various projects and ensures the coordination of ICSE’s goals with those of the central PH administration through constant exchange.

Anna Blattmann is Project Manager at the International Centre for STEM Education (ICSE). She is responsible for the organisation and implementation of international project meetings and conferences. Her work focuses on coordinating international networks, managing projects and representing ICSE at national and international education events.

Before joining ICSE, Anna worked as a high school teacher and teacher trainer, coordinated international exchange opportunities for students, led several eTwinning projects in collaboration with various European project partners, and was involved in educational project development.

Dr. Mirjam Holtkemper has been working as part of the content team at ICSE since 2024.

She graduated from Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Planning and Instructional Design, and a Master of Science in Cognitive Science. Following her master’s degree, she pursued her doctoral studies at the Psychological Institute of the University of Education Freiburg. Since October 2016, she has been employed in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Psychological Institute, and since January 2024, she is working as a Program Specialist at ICSE at the University of Education Freiburg.