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Konrad Schönborn

Professor, Head of Unit

Interrogating the intersection of visualization and learning

Konrad is passionate about the impact of visualization on learning. His doctoral journey provided a unique opportunity to examine relationships between human learning and the visual representation of scientific knowledge.

Entering Linköping University (LiU) granted him life-changing exposure to cutting-edge visualization research – visual information that is dynamic, multimodal, and immersive. Such world-class environments provide novel avenues to investigate visualization for learning and communicating science and knowledge across the STEM disciplines. At the same time, as scientific leader of the National Graduate School in Science and Technology Education (FontD), he has had the chance to contribute to the emergence of science and technology education research in Sweden.

In working close together with colleagues at the Visual Learning and Communication (VLC) research group at LiU, Visualization Center C in Norrköping, across LiU faculties, nationally in Sweden, and around the world, his research has included investigating students’ and citizens’ interpretation and interaction with visualizations of the bio-microcosmos, the nanoworld, and abstract properties of the macroscale. The future vision is to pursue new inroads into how visualization can harness learners’ and citizens’ meaningful exploration and explanation of science.

Photo credit Thor Balkhed

Publications

2025

Charlotta Nordlöf, Per Norström, Konrad Schönborn, Jonas Hallström (2025) Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (Article in journal)
Annika Thyberg, Konrad Schönborn, Niklas Gericke (2025) Research in science education, Vol. 55, p. 399-423 (Article in journal)

2024

Jonas Hallström, Konrad Schönborn (2024) Ways of Thinking in STEM‑based Problem Solving: Teaching and Learning in a New Era, p. 153-162 (Chapter in book)
Jörgen Stenlund, Konrad Schönborn, Veronica Johansson Sydqvist (2024) Journal of Biological Education (Article, review/survey)
Peilin Yu, Aida Nordman, Marta Koc-Januchta, Konrad Schönborn, Lonni Besançon, Katerina Vrotsou (2024) IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (Article in journal)

Education and career

  • Konrad Schönborn was born 1977 in South Africa
  • PhD University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2005
  • Postdoc Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany 2006–2007
  • Postdoc Linköping University 2008
  • Assistant Professor Linköping University 2009
  • Associate Professor Linköping University 2012
  • Docent Linköping University 2017
  • Professor Linköping University 2021

Visualization of nanoparticles

Visual Learning and Communication

Our research is about teaching and learning science with visualizations. We focus on biology and molecular sciences, and are interested in both learning with and design of visualizations.

Organisation