Magdalena Kersting

Short presentation

Overview

With a background in mathematics, physics, and science communication, I hold a Ph.D. in Physics Education Research from the University of Oslo, and I am a recipient of the International Astronomical Union Ph.D. Prize in Education, Outreach, and Heritage. My research intersects science education, embodied cognition, and technology perspectives, with a focus on how embodied experiences shape scientific understanding. I teach graduate courses at the Department of Science Education, and my main teaching responsibilities fall within the Master in Science Teaching (MiSU) and the Master in STEM Teaching (KASTEM).

In addition to my research and teaching responsibilities, I hold leadership positions within various professional organisations and offer mentorship to early-career researchers. I coordinate the Special Interest Group 'Languages & Literacies in Science Education' under the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), and I serve as the co-chair of the ESERA 2025 conference in Copenhagen. I am also the co-founder of the International Modern Physics & Research in Education Seminar Series (IMPRESS), and I find great joy in fostering collaboration within the physics and science education communities.

CV

Research Experience

• March 2022 - present: Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Science Education at the Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  
  
• March 2020 - February 2022: Postdoctoral researcher in science education at the Department of Teacher Education & School Research, University of Oslo, Norway
  
  
• November 2019: Visiting researcher at the Centre of Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education Research, Karlstad University, Sweden
  
  
• May 2019 - June 2019: Visiting research fellow with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav) at Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
  
  
• August 2018 - April 2019: Visiting research fellow with Einstein First, Department of Physics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
  
  

Education

• 2019: PhD in Physics Education, University of Oslo
  
  
• 2018: Diploma in Public Relations, Freie Journalistenschule Berlin
  
  
• 2015: Master of Science in Mathematics, University of Göttingen
  
  
• 2012: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Göttingen
  
  
• 2011: Bachelor of Science in Physics, University of Göttingen

Teaching

• NNDM23001U - Didaktiske forskningsmetoder (Science Education Research Methods)
• NNDM23000U - Naturfagsdidaktik og undersøgelsesbaseret naturfagsundervisning (Science Education & Inquiry-based Science Teaching)
• NNDK20004U - De empirisk eksperimentelle videnskaber (The Experimental Empirical Sciences)
• NNDM23001U - Empiriske metoder/temakursus (Research Methods in Science Education)
• NNDB19007U - Introduktion til naturvidenskabelig formidling
  (Introduction to Science Communication)
• NNDK22001U - Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag (Advanced Course in Science Education)

I also supervise students within the Master in Science Teaching (MiSU) and the Master in STEM Teaching (KASTEM). If you are interested in supervision opportunities, I encourage you to get in touch.