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Marcel Foerster

an image of Marcel in front of a body of water with forest in the background

Key words: Climate Fiction - Narrative Theory - New Media Studies

Affiliation: Ohio State University

Marcel Foerster is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures (GLL) at OSU. His dissertation focuses on the simulation of nature in various narrative forms, such as German climate fiction (cli-fi) and open-world video games. His research aims to identify how narratives simulate immersive experiences of being in nature, how audiences connect with these simulated environments, and ultimately, what such representations mean for our relationship with the real natural world.

His broader research interests include Nature Simulation, Written Landscapes, Narrative Theory, Environmental Humanities, Postcolonial Studies, New Media Studies, German Romanticism and Realism, Virtual Worlds and Worldbuilding, Applied Linguistics, and Intercultural Competence and Communication.

Marcel holds a master’s degree in German Studies from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in English, History, and Education from the University of Kassel, Germany. He previously worked as a lecturer in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition in the Department of English and American Studies at the University of Kassel.

At OSU, Marcel served as president of the Germanic Graduate Student Organization (GGSA) from 2024 to 2025. Additionally, he teaches German language courses at the beginner and intermediate levels. His dedication to teaching has been recognized with several awards, including the university-wide Graduate Associate Teaching Award (GATA) in 2024 and the Graduate Associate Distinguished Teaching Award from the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures in 2025.