Harald Raaijmakers
Doctoral Student
Unit for Subject Matter Education with specialization in Science and Technology EducationAbout Harald Raaijmakers
Research
Harald Raaijmakers is a doctoral researcher in science education at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. His research explores how people perceive, engage with, and learn from plant life across educational settings and disciplines. Drawing on science education, museum studies, and environmental education, his work examines plant awareness, biodiversity education, and the educational potential of botanic gardens as living museums and sites for public engagement. He is particularly interested in how aesthetic experience, visual representation, dialogue, and imagination can foster wonder and meaningful relationships with the living world. Before starting his doctoral studies, Harald worked for more than fifteen years as a biology teacher, museum educator, and educational programme developer in the Netherlands and Sweden. His previous research focused on museum–school partnerships, interdisciplinary science education, and the use of art-based approaches to support dialogue and learning both inside and outside school.
Main supervisor: Dawn Sanders and co-supervisor: Alexina Thorén Williams
Professional experience
Lecturer in Biology Didactics - Karlstad University, Sweden, 2022-2023: Teaching biology didactics in teacher education programs.
Museum Educator and Educational Programme Developer - Alma Löv Museum of Unexp. Art, Sweden, 2017–2022. Developed and implemented interdisciplinary museum programs for schools, integrating art-based approaches to science education.
Secondary School Science and Mathematics Teacher - Sweden and The Netherlands, 2006–2017: Taught science and mathematics at lower and upper secondary levels; served as head of the mathematics and science department.