International activities at the IFS
The connection to the international scientific community is of great strategic importance for the IFS. Thus, the IFS is anchored in top national and international research. Furthermore, scientists regularly publish their research results in English-language journals or present them at international conferences. In addition, the institute regularly hosts visiting scholars; on the one hand, staff members spend research stays abroad, and on the other hand, guest lecturers from abroad come to the institute for research stays, project exchanges or guest lectures. Finally, the area of teaching at the institute is also characterized by its international orientation, as there are, for example, teaching concepts for the implementation of intercultural education in teacher training.

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IFS at the AERA Conference in Los Angeles
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The AERA Annual Meeting will take place from April 8 to April 12, 2026, in Los Angeles under the theme “Unforgetting Histories and Imagining Futures: Constructing a New Vision for Education Research”.
Each year, the conference is the world’s largest gathering of education researchers. Across more than 2,500 sessions, the latest research findings are presented and discussed. The annual meeting also provides opportunities for networking among scholars.
IFS is represented with a wide range of contributions: On April 8, Dr. Elisabeth Graf will chair a roundtable session on “Middle School Students’ Engagement in Civic Education”.
On April 9, Dr. Pascal Alscher and Dr. Elisabeth Graf, together with Dr. Daniel Deimel from the University of Duisburg-Essen, will present a symposium on “Discussing Controversial Issues in Class: Classroom Climate, Critical Consciousness, and Civic Competence”. In another symposium, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Justine Stang-Rabrig and Dr. Gyde Wartenberg from Humboldt University of Berlin will present on “Seed and Soil: New Insights into Current Individual and School-Based Approaches to Promote Teachers’ Well-Being”.
On April 11, Leonie Dargiewicz will present a symposium on “The Reduction of Differences in Early Vocabulary,” and Svenja Wehrhöfer will chair a symposium on “Relevance of Individual and Family Environment Factors for Young Children’s Language Use and Language Skills”.
We wish all participants an inspiring and rewarding experience at the AERA Annual Meeting 2026!




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