Marcel Bastiaansen

Marcel Bastiaansen is a Full Professor of Leisure and Tourism Experience at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) and Tilburg University. He leads the Experience Lab at BUas, focusing on biologically-based measurements of visitor experiences and emotions. His roles include director of the Experience Lab, member of the Academy for Leisure and Events management team, and teaching duties in BUas' scientific programs.

Education:

• Master in Experimental Psychology (1996), Tilburg University
• PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience (cum laude, 2000), Tilburg University

Research Interests: Marcel’s work centers on leisure and tourism experiences, their impact on well-being, and the application of neuroscience techniques. Key areas include:
- Experience Design: Measuring and enhancing visitor engagement through AR/VR and physiological data.
- Emotional Dynamics: Studying stressors, human connections, and meaningful leisure activities.
- Neuroscience Applications: Using EEG, skin conductance, and behavioral tracking to decode experiences.

Projects & Collaborations:

• HUBRIS: Human-like robotic systems in vehicles.
• Augmented Stadium Experience (ASE): Enhancing live events via AR.
• Van Gogh Storysperience: Leveraging storytelling in cultural tourism.

Awards:

• Literati Award 2020 (for collaborative work on experience measurement).

Labs & Teams: The Experience Lab develops cutting-edge tools like real-time emotion tracking and biometric analysis, applied to museums, theme parks, and urban planning.