Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Suzanne Kapelari, MA
Head of DiNGIM, Faculty of Teacher Education

Phone: +43 512 507 43100
E-Mail: suzanne.kapelari@uibk.ac.at
Address: Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck
Room: 2-23
Office hours: Wednesday 09:00-11:00 (notification via Thomas.Schnabl@uibk.ac.at is required)
Research
Research interests
- Learning Outside the Classroom
- Garden Learning
- Inquiry-based Learning
- Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
Projects
- BigPicnic - Big Questions - engaging the public with Responsible Research and Innovation on Food Security
- ICSE - The International Centre for STEM Education
- Mascil - Mathematics and Science for Life
- STEM PD Net - European STEM Professional Development Centre Network
- INQURE - Inquiry-based teacher training for a sustainable future
Research activities
Teaching
Courses taught at the University of Innsbruck
- Learning and Teaching in School Gardens (2018)
- Methodology and Didactics of Biology Teaching (2017)
- Subject Didactics: Science (2017)
- Supervise and evaluate “Vorwissenschaftliche Arbeit” within the framework of the standardized “Matura” (2017)
- Hands-on science - Students develop hands-on stations about the brain (2017)
- Inquiry-based Learning (2008-2014, 2017-2018)
- Learning outside the classroom (2016-2017)
- Key issues in the biology classroom (2011-2017)
- Systematic and taxonomic exercises (cryptogams and phanerogams) for pre-service teachers (2009-2011)
- Fascinating botany (2006)
Courses taught at the Free University of Bozen - Bolzano
- Didactics of living nature 1 + 2 (since 2016)
Teacher Training (Selection)
- Kapelari, Suzanne: Feuer, Wasser, Luft und Erde: Angewandte Naturwissenschaften an BAKIPs. Pädagogische Hochschule Oberösterreich, 2017.
- Kapelari, Suzanne & Purin, Gerhard: Wunder-(Lehr-)mittel Soja. Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg, 2016.
- Kapelari, Suzanne & Johnson, Sue: Pflanzenforscher unterwegs … in der Schule und im Botanischen Garten.
- Kapelari, Suzanne & Egg, Jakob: Lehrgang “Blüten und ihre Besucher” - Forschendes Lernen. Pädagogische Hochschule, 2013.
Administration
- President of "Österreichische Gesellschaft für Fachdidaktik (ÖGFD)", 26.09.2018 - 29.09.2021.
- Member of the Review Board for the American Journal of Health Behavior, since 2018.
- President of "Verein Österreichischer Biologiedidaktikerinnen und Biologiedidaktiker (VÖBD)", 23.09.2015 - 26.09.2018.
- Organisation of closed conference “Standards in the Didactics of Biology”, Obergurgl, Austria, 30.09.2018–03.10.2018.
- Organisation of the International conference of subject didactics 2019 Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 15.11.2017–15.03.2018.
- Member of the Scientific Committee: International Conference New Perspectives in Science Education, Florence, Italy, since 2014.
- Conference Management of the Tagung der Fachdidaktik 2013, Innsbruck, Austria, 08.03.2013.
- Advisory Board Member of the EU Project: MaSDIV (Coordinator: PH Freiburg, GER)
- Management Board member of the EU H2020 Project Big Picnic: Big Questions - engaging the public with Responsible Research and Innovation on Food Security, 2016–2019.
- WP Leader, Erasmus+ Network: STEM PD Net - European Network of STEM Professional Development, 2016–2019.
- Member of the Advisory Board on Ethical Implications in Scientific Research, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, since 30.01.2018.
- Board member in various habilitation and appeal committees, since 2017.
- Substitute member of the faculty council, University of Innsbruck - School of Education, Innsbruck, 01.03.2014–28.02.2017.
- Member of the curriculum committee “Teacher Training Programme”. University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 20.11.2013–31.08.2014.
- Member of the faculty council, University of Innsbruck - School of Education, Innsbruck, 07.11.2012–31.03.2013.
Curriculum Vitae
since 2017 | Full Professor and Director of the Area of Science, Geography, Computer Science and Mathematics Education (DiNGIM) at the Department of Subject-Specific Education, University of Innsbruck | |
since 2016 | Director of the Area of Science, Geography, Computer Science and Mathematics Education (DiNGIM) at the Department of Subject-Specific Education, University of Innsbruck | |
2015–2017 | Project partner: Sparkling Science project Woody Woodpecker in collaboration with Prof Dr. S. Mayr, Institute of Botany, University Innsbruck |
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2015 | Habilitation: Didaktik der Naturwissenschaften unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Biologiedidaktik, University of Innsbruck | |
2014–2017 | Head of the Austrian Education Competence Center Biology (AECCBio), Centre for Teacher Education, University of Vienna | |
2013–2017 | Project partner: science communication project Plant Stories in collaboration with Prof Dr. S. Mayr, Institute of Botany, University Innsbruck |
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07/13–10/13 | Visiting researcher at Kings College London, UK with Prof. Dr. Justin Dillon |
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2013–2015 | Project partner: Sparkling Science project Viel-Falter science education research part |
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2012–2015 | Partner for the EU Comenius Network INSTEM - Innovation Networks in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics | |
2012–2014 | Head of the Science and Mathematics Education Research Group (DiNGIM) at the Department of Subject-Specific Education, University of Innsbruck | |
2010–2013 | Project coordinator: EU 7 th Framework project INQURE - Inquiry-based teacher training for a sustainable future | |
2010–2012 | Project partner: Sparkling Science project GrasKlim science education research part |
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2009–2011 | Project partner: ERZBERG, SFB HiMAT science communication, design and realisation of an interactive heritage trail |
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2008–2011 | Coordinator for the Centre of Science Education in collaboration with the Pedagogical College Tirol, PHT |
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2008–2011 | Project partner: Modelle einer nachhaltigen Raumnutzung science communication part |
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2008–2010 | Project partner: Sparkling Science projects Alien Invaders and TopKlimaScience science education research part |
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2008–2010 | Project partner: Inquiry based Science learning at Science Centres in Austria | |
2005–2007 | Project coordinator: EU 6th Framework project Plant Science Gardens | |
2004–2005 | Biology teacher at Akademisches Gymnasium/Innsbruck | |
2003–2004 | Project coordinator: Environmental Education for Agriculturalists funded by the provincial government, Tyrol |
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2001–2005 | Project coordinator and initiator: Young University, University of Innsbruck science communication program; in collaboration with Dr. S. Prock |
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2000–2012 | Head of Education at the Plant Science Education Centre Grüne Schule, University Botanic Gardens, University of Innsbruck | |
2000–2002 | Study: Master of Arts in Education, City College of New York Training offered by the Austrian-American Educational Cooperation Association |
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2000–2002 | Biology teacher at the Private High School Volders/St. Karl | |
1995–2000 | Freelance biologist in various projects Nature Reserve Inventory for MT. Patscherkofel; Regional public relation project “Best Places in Nature”; Coordinator of the projects “Framework for environmental protection for the City of Innsbruck,”Teaching resources about Gene Technology in Agriculture" and “Environmental education program offered at the Nature Park Karwendel” |
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1996, 1998 | Children: Felix and Antonia | |
1994–1995 | Biology teacher - Initial Practical Year | |
1991, 1992 | Children: Johanna and Timo | |
1987–1993 | Additional Study: Teacher Training, University of Innsbruck Graduation 9.7.1993 |
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1987–1991 | Dissertation at Institute of Pharmacology, University of Innsbruck Graduation 10.10.1991 |
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1984–1987 | Study: Biology, Zoology and Cell-Biology at the University of Innsbruck Graduation with honor 15.12.1987 |