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Biology Didactics

Prof. Dr. Susanne Menzel-Riedl

President of the University of Osnabrück

represented by

Dr. Florian Fiebelkorn

The Department of Biology Didactics conducts research with the aim of promoting more sustainable human behaviour. To this end, we focus mainly on the two main areas of "Biodiversity Conservation" and "Sustainable Nutrition".

Current research foci in the area of Biodiversity Conservation are:

Identification of relevant behaviours for biodiversity conservation
Cognitive biases and heuristics in the perception of biodiversity
Investigation of environmental psychological factors influencing the protection of insect, bird and plant species in Germany
The role of emotions and empathy in biodiversity conservation
Optimisation of regional stakeholder networks in regional nature conservation

Current research foci in the area of Sustainable Nutrition are:

Professional competencies of biology teachers for teaching sustainable nutrition
Acceptance of novel foods - insects, in-vitro meat and other cell-based foods
Investigation of nutritional-psychological factors influencing meat consumption
Pupils' perceptions of the keeping of farm animals

In our research projects, we use a broad repertoire of methods from the social sciences. In particular, we focus on qualitative and quantitative methods of environmental psychology and didactics of biology. These include, among others:

Qualitative interviews and document analyses
Quantitative online and paper-pencil questionnaire studies
Intervention studies in schools
Social network analyses and stakeholder analyses

We implement our research findings in practical teaching projects and publications (see "Practical teaching publications"). In addition, we are involved in various formats of science communication, such as the Fast Forward Science competition, the "Hochschulwettbewerb" (university competition) or the "MS Wissenschaft" (mobile exhibition on a boat).

Selected scientific publications

Dupont J, & Fiebelkorn F (2020). Attitudes and acceptance of young people toward the consumption of insects and cultured meat in Germany. Food Quality and Preference, 85. pdf

Molina-Cando MJ, Escandón S, Van Dyck D, Cardon G, Salvo D, Fiebelkorn F, Andrade S, Ochoa-Avilés C, García A, Brito J, Alvarez-Alvarez M, & Ochoa-Avilés A (2021). Nature relatedness as a potential factor to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in Ecuadorian children. PLoS ONE, 16(5), 1-13. pdf

Weber A, Büssing AG, Jarzyna R, & Fiebelkorn F (2020). Do German Student Biology Teachers Intend to Eat Sustainably? Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior with Nature Relatedness and Environmental Concern. Sustainability, 12(12), 1-19. pdf

Selected practical teaching publications

Fiebelkorn F, & Kuckuck M (2020) Die Welt zu Gast im Obstregal – Wie nachhaltig ist mein Supermarkt? Unterricht Biologie, 44(458), 6-11. pdf

Fiebelkorn F, Puchert N, & Dossey AT (2020) An Exercise on Data-Based Decision-Making: Comparing the Sustainability of Meat and Edible Insects. The American Biology Teacher, 82(8), 522-528. pdf

Folsche E, Beckord S, Fritz J, Jörling A, Kroneberg L, Kasten P, Laumann S, Marx I, Pötter H, Pauls K, Rumple M, Lückmann-Fragner K, Söhlke G, Fiebelkorn F (2020). Nachhaltige Ernährung im Alltag. Ein Selbstversuch und Erfahrungsbericht. LeLa magazin, 28, 16-18. pdf