Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences - Physics Education

Dr. Steffen Wagner

Name
Dr. Steffen Wagner
Status
Research Assistant
Email
steffen.wagner (at) physik.hu-berlin.de
Institution
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences →
Department of Physics →
Didactics of Physics
Visiting address
Lise Meitner-Haus, Institutsgebäude, Newtonstraße 15 , Room 2'312
Phone number
+49 30 2093-82094
Mailing address
Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin

Current Position

Postdoc in Primary Science and Secondary Physics Education

 

Research Projects

  • critical thinking in inquiry-based learning
  • explanations and models
  • networks and network analyses as research tools in science education research

 

CV

  • Since 10/2025: Postdoc in Physics Education (Teaching & Research), focusing on primary science and secondary physics education 

  • 10/2024 - 09/2025: Interim Professorship in Primary Science Education (Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg) 

  • 04/2023 - 03/2024: Visiting Professor in Primary Science Education (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) 

  • 01/2018 - 04/2023: Postdoc in Physics Education (Teaching & Research), focusing on primary science and secondary physics education

  • 2018: PhD (Dr. rer. nat.), Humboldt University of Berlin

  • 2013–2016: Teacher of Physics and Mathematics, Evangelische Schule Berlin Zentrum

  • 2013: Master of Education (M.Ed.), Humboldt University of Berlin

  • 2012: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Humboldt University of Berlin

 

Publications

Journal Papers

  • Wagner, S., & Priemer, B. (2023). Assessing the quality of scientific explanations with networks. International Journal of Science Education, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2023.2172326
  • Neumann, I., Wagner, S., & Priemer, B. (2023). „Wenn wir mal von der Reibung absehen...“—Im Physikunterricht über Validität sprechen. MNU Journal, 04. https://doi.org/10.18452/27462
  • Wagner, S., & Lang, V. (2022). Bohrs Atomvorstellungen im Chemie- und Physikunterricht. PlusLucis, 22(3).
  • Wagner, S., Ernst, G., Priemer, B., & Upmeier zu Belzen, A. (2021). Der Wissenschaft auf der Spur—Anhand eines fiktiven Kriminalfalls systematisieren lernen. Sachunterricht Grundschule, 89(1), 6.
  • Wagner, S., Maut, C., & Priemer, B. (2021). Thermal expansion of water in the science lab—Advantages and disadvantages of different experimental setups. Physics Education, 56(3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/abeac4
  • Wagner, S., Kok, K., & Priemer, B. (2020). Measuring Characteristics of Explanations with Element Maps. Education Sciences, 10(2), 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci10020036
  • Grusche, S., & Wagner, S. (2016). Two different looks at Kepler’s refraction experiment. Physics Education, 51(6). 

 

Book Chapters
  • Wagner, S. (2025). Demokratiebildung im naturwissenschaftlichen Sach- und Anfangsunterricht. In S. Achour, M. Sieberkrob, D. Pech, J. Zelck, & P. Eberhard (Hrsg.), Handbuch Demokratiebildung und Fachdidaktik: Bd. 2: Fachperspektiven (S. 42–51). Wochenschau Verlag.
  • Neumann, I., Wagner, S., & Priemer, B. (2025). Vergleich von Messmodell und Messdaten—Im Physikunterricht über Validität sprechen. In B. Priemer & K. Kok (Hrsg.), Messunsicherheiten im Physikunterricht (S. 93–105). Berlin Universities Publishing.
  • Wagner, S., Priemer, B., & Maut, C. (2025). Die thermische Ausdehnung von Wasser—Vor- und Nachteile verschiedener experimenteller Anordnungen für den Physikunterricht. In B. Priemer & K. Kok (Hrsg.), Messunsicherheiten im Physikunterricht (S. 221–238). Berlin Universities Publishing. 

 

Conference Proceedings
  • Wagner, S. (2024). Analyzing Drawings From Explanations of a Seasonal Phenomenon Using Networks. In G. Kaya, M. Sardag, & G. Kibar (Hrsg.), Connecting Science Education with Cultural Heritage: Bd. III (S. 142–151). Nobel Publishing.
  • Wagner, S. (2022). Mapping The Gap: Exploring the Relation Between Phenomena and Theory in Scientific Explanations. Concept Mapping - Improving Learning and Understanding, 9th International Conference on Concept Mapping, Malta.
  • Wagner, S., Priemer, B., Boczianowski, F., Linder, C., & Bernholt, S. (2015). Analyse des Modellverständnisses Physikstudierender am Beispiel der optischen Brechung. Heterogenität und Diversität - Vielfalt der Voraussetzungen im naturwissenschaftlichen Unterricht. Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Jahrestagung in Bremen 2014, Kiel. 

 

Theses and Reports
  • Wagner, S. (2024). From Text to Networks: Unveiling the Structure of Written Scientific Explanations - A Comprehensive Manual for Science Education. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. https://doi.org/10.18452/28310
  • Wagner, S. (2018). Erklärungen physikalischer Phänomene mit Modellen [Dissertation]. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät.
  • Wagner, S. (2013). Die Rolle von Abbildungen beim Problemlösen am Beispiel der optischen Brechung [Masterarbeit]. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät.

 

Talks and Workshops

  • Wagner, S. (2026, January). Mental Representations of Science [Invited talk]. Bjerknes Center for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway.
  • Wagner, S. (2025, August). What Does Science Mean? Exploring Pre-Service Teachers’ Semantic Representations of Science Through Word Associations [Symposium presentation]. ESERA 2025 – 16th Biennial Conference of the European Science Education Research Association, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Wagner, S., Priemer, B., & Maut, C. (2025, March). Pre-Service Teachers’ Conceptions of Critical Thinking [Conference presentation]. NARST 2025 Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
  • Wagner, S., & Priemer, B. (2025, March). Konzepte im Sachunterricht [Conference presentation]. GDSU Annual Conference 2025, Cologne, Germany.
  • Wagner, S. (2024, March). Analyse von Zeichnungen in Erklärungen angehender Grundschullehrkräfte vor und nach einer konzeptbildenden Intervention [Conference presentation]. GDSU Annual Conference 2024, Hanover, Germany.
  • Wagner, S. (2023, August). Analysing Drawings From Explanations for a Seasonal Phenomenon [Symposium presentation]. ESERA 2023 – 15th Biennial Conference of the European Science Education Research Association, Cappadocia, Türkiye.
  • Wagner, S. (2023, February). Kritisches Denken und Sachunterricht—Ein Plädoyer [Conference presentation]. GDSU Annual Conference 2023, Salzburg, Austria.
  • Wagner, S. (2022, September). Mapping The Gap: Exploring the Relation Between Phenomena and Theory in Scientific Explanations [Conference presentation]. Concept Mapping – Improving Learning and Understanding, 9th International Conference on Concept Mapping, Malta.
  • Wagner, S., & Priemer, B. (2022, March). Future Primary School Teachers’ Interests in Science [Conference presentation]. NARST 2022 Annual International Conference, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Wagner, S., & Priemer, B. (2020, February). Von Mücken und Schwarzen Löchern—Naturwissenschaftliche Interessen von Kindern zu Beginn des NaWi-Unterrichts [Workshop]. MINT Grundschullehrer*innen-Tag des MNU Landesverbandes Berlin-Brandenburg, Potsdam, Germany.
  • Wagner, S., Priemer, B., & Lewalter, D. (2020, March). Naturwissenschaftliche Interessen von Kindern zu Beginn des NaWi-Unterrichts [Conference presentation]. GDSU Annual Conference 2020, Augsburg, Germany.
  • Wagner, S. (2019, October). Learning to Explain—Networks as Tools for Visualizing the Conceptual Structure of Written Explanations [Conference presentation]. NASER: Networks Applied in Science Education Research, Helsinki, Finland.
 

Teaching

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg (2024 - 2025, Interim Professor)
  • Disciplinary Principles of Primary Science Education – Natural Sciences (lecture and seminar, primary teacher education, BA)
  • Disciplinary Principles of Primary Science Education – Social Sciences (lecture and seminar, primary teacher education, BA)

 

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2023 - 2024, Visiting Professor)

  • Competencies in Primary Science Education (seminar, primary teacher education, BA)
  • Choreographies of Teaching (seminar, primary teacher education, BA)
  • Analysis of Instructional Materials – Questions, Criteria, and Methods (colloquium, primary teacher education, BA)

 

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2018 - today, Postdoc)

  • Epistemic Practices in Physics (seminar, physics teacher education, BA)
  • Selected Topics (tutorial, primary teacher education, BA)
  • Inquiry for Primary Teaching (practical seminar, primary teacher education, M.Ed.)
  • Introduction to Physics Education (lecture and tutorial, primary teacher education, M.Ed.)
  • Lab Work and School Experiments (practical seminar, physics teacher education, BA & M.Ed.)
  • Teaching Preparation Course (accompanying seminar, physics teacher education, M.Ed.)
  • Theory in Physics Education (seminar, physics teacher education, M.Ed.)
  • Special Topics in Physics Teaching (seminar, physics teacher education, M.Ed.)

 

Further Projects

  • 2020: Junior Fellowship (Stifterverband) for innovations in higher education teaching – “21st Century Skills for Primary Teacher Education Students”
  • 2020: Academic Assistance for the Humboldt–Bayer Mobile School Lab
  • 2014–2016: Academic Lead of the Humboldt–Bayer Mobile School Lab