The first Sparkling Science Spotlight of 2026 focused on the subject of history! Three projects were invited to present and while they deal with different topics and are rooted in various scientific disciplines, they share one common feature: their focus on contemporary history and historical research, their practical methodological approach and their direct relevance to history teaching.
Alexander Preisinger presented the Sparkling Science project “Digital GameBase/D Learning”, which has been running at the Gamelab at the University of Vienna since 2025. The project aims to develop a freely accessible digital database of curated computer games and teaching materials for the classroom. The content is being developed and tested together with students at three partner schools in Vienna, with the aim of embedding game-based learning in the classroom. Particularly fascinating were the insights into projects for history lessons, such as research into students’ historical perceptions and concepts of knowledge regarding the First World War.
Gerald Lamprecht and Georg Marschnig presented their project “The Memory of the Classroom”. The project investigates which histories – and whose histories – are told in schools, museums and society, and whether contemporary historical narratives still reflect the diverse life experiences of young people. To this end, pupils at six schools in Graz are researching their own family histories and conducting interviews on the subject of National Socialism and the Holocaust. Spotlight highlighted a planned travelling exhibition designed to make the project’s findings publicly accessible.
Merle Bieber, researcher at the Institute for Jewish History in Austria, and Andrea Losert-Ganglberger, teacher at the partner school, shared their experiences from the project ‘Young People with Refugee Experience’. The project examines young people’s experiences of flight using historical and social science methods, drawing a comparison between Austrian-Jewish youths during the Nazi era and young refugees arriving in Austria today. Particularly fascinating was the insight into the diverse work of the pupils, ranging from challenging source analysis and participation in a podcast to documentation in research journals.
A recording of the presentations is available to watch via the following link: https://youtu.be/HJomcQ8udjQ
The next Spotlight takes place on June 16th 2026, 1-2 PM, with the topic “From research to the classroom: exploring climate change through Sparkling Science projects!”. Register here
