Xavier Rubio-Campillo

Dr. Xavier Rubio-Campillo serves as a Ramón y Cajal Researcher in Digital Humanities and Applied Didactics at the Universitat de Barcelona. He earned a Computer Science Engineering degree from Universitat Pompeu Fabra (2003) and a PhD in Social Sciences Didactics and Heritage from Universitat de Barcelona (2009).

• 2009-2016: Led Digital Humanities research group at Barcelona Supercomputing Centre
• 2016-2020: Taught Computational Archaeology at University of Edinburgh
• 2020-present: Ramón y Cajal Researcher at Universitat de Barcelona

His transdisciplinary work bridges Computer Science and Humanities through:

• Board game economic simulations analysis
• Digital heritage preservation
• Game-based learning methodologies
• Computational modeling of cultural systems
• Historical epistemology in gaming
• Critical examination of colonial narratives in modern games

Recent publications examine how board games like Monopoly and Catan:

• Reflect capitalist dynamics vs. market-based systems
• Teach negotiation and strategic planning
• Transform educational approaches through play
• Model real-world economic challenges
• Evolve game design principles over time
• Balance chance vs. skill mechanisms

As director of the DIDPATRI research group, he explores:

• Digital didactics innovation
• Heritage interpretation through technology
• Interactive learning environments
• Game theory applications in education
• Critical analysis of cultural products
• Technology-enhanced teaching methods