Dr Maarten Koeners

About me

I’m a biomedical researcher by training, with a background in experimental nephrology. More recently my academic work has moved towards education, innovation and the creation of more connected learning experiences.

My work focuses on prosocial education: how we can create experiences that encourage meaningful social interaction, connection, compassion and shared contribution. I co-founded InnoPlay with Adam Lusby, bringing together the art and science of play, design thinking and story to explore how we can create prosocial experiences through play. Through this work I have worked with students, educators, universities and organisations to develop playful approaches to learning, teaching, innovation and professional development.

I am currently Innovation Lead for Executive Education, seconded to the Business School, Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship. Here I work on developing new Executive Education experiences and exploring how academic expertise can be translated into relevant, engaging and useful learning for organisations and professionals.

I am also Module Lead for Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneurship, bringing together my scientific background with my interests in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

Across these roles, I am interested in the space between learning, connection and change: how we design experiences that enable people to learn with and from one another, experiment with ideas and contribute to creating something new.

Interests:

• Prosocial education and learning
• Playful pedagogy
• Design Thinking
• Executive Education
• Social connection, compassion and belonging
• Creativity and creative confidence
• Learning through discovery
• Innovation and entrepreneurship in education
• Designing learning experiences for complex and high-performance environments

I am particularly interested in moving beyond seeing play simply as an activity or teaching technique. Instead, I explore play as a way of creating the conditions for learning, connection and positive social interaction.