Digitization offers new perspectives for educational research to identify the effects of visualizations regarding cognitive processing. In addition, new types of data can be generated, expanding the possibilities for visualizing cognitive processes and understanding human learning. Digital twins are already used in Industry 4.0, as an additional visualization to a real object, for data mining and data analysis for process optimization. The increasing integration of digital twins in the industrial sector requires the formulation of corresponding educational goals to ensure high-quality and future-oriented education. Therefore, future generations must be introduced to technologies from industry during their education. In this paper, an intelligent photometric measurement system called SmaEPho with a digital twin for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning is presented. In addition to its function as a photometric measurement device, an intelligent sensor technology allows for data generation on the user’s usage behavior. The digital twin reflects and visualizes these data in real-time. This enables a variety of new didactic and methodological approaches in teaching. A first study evaluating the hardware and tracking components of SmaEPho shows that the deviation accuracy of the measurement system is sufficient for experimental applications in schools. Another study with n=52 students confirmed the excellent usability of the SmaEPho hardware platform. These research results lay the foundation for a variety of future research questions on data analysis and machine learning algorithms with the aim of increasing the quality of education. The use of intelligent digital twins as an element of digitization in educational contexts offers the extended possibility of identifying cognitive processing steps using this technology.

In the course of combining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the science education curriculum, the relevance of the micro- and macroalgae in education is based on the biotechnological future-oriented significance and the ever-growing trend toward plant-based nutrition. So, the micro- and macroalgae are finding their way onto the food shelves and creating biotechnological solutions with regard to climate change (SDG4; SDG13). Their colored photopigments and phycobiliproteins are already established as important natural dyes in the food and textile industries. In addition to being essential in photosynthesis, photopigments have a variety of functions and effects that influence almost all aspects of our lives. The article presents experimental protocols developed based on the established methods for the extraction of photopigments from plants and optimized for the use of phototrophic micro- and macroalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Arthrospira platensis, and Palmaria palmata). Besides the green chlorophylls and yellow-orange carotenoids in plants, cyanobacteria and red algae developed additional light antenna complexes, so-called phycobilisomes, consisting of different phycobiliproteins. For this purpose, experiments that are simple to execute have been developed to make the colorful world of photopigments visible to the students from the upper secondary level and can be used in both university and school educational settings. Furthermore, a column chromatography was developed, which allows the preparation of the pigment and phycobiliprotein extracts from A. platensis. This procedure is based on the established “supermarket column” and was optimized according to the use of powdered amounts of A. platensis. Additionally, results from a first implementation in a classroom setting will be discussed.

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Process development and quality assurance through interconnected structures between the digital and real worlds are often reflected in digital twins. This article summarizes current trends and developments, their special features, but also the challenges of digital twins. The report includes a selection of different new and further developments, possible applications and research projects that were exhibited at ACHEMA 2022.