BUA Institution

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Excellence Cluster Matters of Activity

Research Description

I do research and development on serious games, game based learning, gamification with technologies like XR and AI. Leading gamelab.berlin, I do not only research on games, but develop them, often for exhibitions and interdisciplinary partners. I also look into the effects of gaming on society and how to use them for research. Lately I work a lot with AI for scientific usage.

Where in the world has your career been largely based until now?

Berlin, Buenos Aires, earlier Braunschweig

Why Berlin?

Berlin is the center of multicultural and interdisciplinary creativity. Creatives, technologists, theorists, makers, researcher and founders are building a heterogenious, vivid, innovative and energetic community. This atmosphere creates inspiring encounters every day and makes me want to stay in this network for as long as I can. 

What fascinates you about your research area?

gaming and learning are basically the same thing: In games, we overcome obstacles, we analyse complicated problems, learn to find new strategies, deal with completely new scenarios, communicate well and build resilience against frustrations. All crucial skills - not only in games.

How will your research change the world?

In times of more and more functional work being automated with AI,  human motivation, development and fullfillment will become more and more important. Games offer the knowledge how to create meaningful lifes when AI takes over our jobs. In Games we feel alive - lets learn from that to design the societies of the future.

What major short-term goal are you currently working towards with your research?

A team of specially and differently trained conversational AI agents, with whom you can engage playfully in discussions about your current topic or problem and that will come up with surprising ideas and knowledge no ChatGPT or Gemini would bring you. 

How did you become interested in your specific topic?

I am a germanist and a computer scientist - ai is an obvious topic for me combining both fields. At a second look, games are too - combingin narratives and feedback loops.

What is your preferred way to communicate your research to the broader public or other specific sectors beyond academia? Where can we see, hear or read you next?

exhibitions - great way to start conversations with the public

What did you want to be when you grow up?

Daniel Düsentrieb

If you could have a radical career change for a week, what would it be?

Pizza driver - I would love to get a glimpse of peoples coziness and help them stay there

Rumour has it that nobody is perfect. Which skill or ability have you really had to work on in your career (or are you perhaps still working on)?

talking to people I don’t know without a mission

What is something surprising that people might not know about you?

I am very shy

What were some challenging or discouraging moments in your career?

I can talk about that when my habilitaion is done ;)

Who is the most interesting or inspiring person you have ever worked with?

many, Wolfgang Schäffner maybe