She headed the Digital Media in Education department (German: Digitale Medien in der Bildung, DIMEB) in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Bremen.

During that time, she became politically involved in the Communist League of West Germany (also known for its pro-choice position), which led to her dismissal from the civil service.

As a research assistant, she began to work on the medial side of the computer and interaction and received her doctorate in 1996 with the topic "The Medium from the Machine.

There, she specialized in the area of Science and Research, a position which is appointed by the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.

[11] At the 18th Interaction Design and Children Conference (IDC 2018), held from 19 to 22 June in Trondheim, Schelhowe was honored with the Edith Ackermann Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Eminent Scholar category.