Individueller und interessenbasierter Wissenstransfer in Museen (IWM)

The aim of the project Individual Knowledge Transfer Messel (IWM) is to enhance visitor education at the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site Messel Pit for a wide audience. Newly developed IWM terminals will be installed in the exhibition spaces, enabling individualized and adaptive presentation of content.

The displays adjust according to users’ age, prior knowledge, and available time: children from age 4 receive age-appropriate texts and interactive elements, while students or adults can access differentiated language levels. More than twenty versions provide compact or detailed information—from basic knowledge to specialized content based on current publications. This allows researchers to engage in in-depth study while the same terminal offers playful learning for children.

To promote inclusion, the terminals are designed to be accessible and allow flexible adjustment of image, text, and audio output. The project is part of a BMBF-funded research initiative investigating the adaptability, effectiveness, and benefits of individualized knowledge transfer. Insights gained are intended to be applied in other museums and exhibitions in the future.