Marnix, to start at the beginning: can you briefly tell us who you are, where you're from, and what you do in the work field? 
Actually, all my life I have been exploring how media influence our behavior. And I look at how companies, organizations and brands can make choices between using the innovations that are yet to come. Difficult, because there are more and more possibilities. Especially in the field of digital realities. And this while hardly any media are disappearing. Just think about it: the fax machine, for example - a much-quoted 'medium from the past' - is still being used. An additional complicating factor is the fact that we do not yet know exactly how these new innovations will work. 

I am currently working as a lecturer in Digital Media Concepts at BUas in Breda. There, together with my colleagues Igor Mayer and Mata Haggis, I am also a research manager in the field of media and games. In the past I have worked both in academia and in the commercial sector. The beauty of my position at BUas is that I don't work on one case or for one client, but overarching. And not just with the R, but also with the D of Research & Development (R&D); we build and measure simultaneously. So we have the best of both worlds, but at the same time also work with challenges. Developers, for example, have a different language and way of working than researchers. But if these worlds can be brought together, wonderful innovations can be created.

So you're an expert in the field of digital media. Where did this interest arise?
It actually started when I was very young. With Star Wars films and the accompanying holograms. And also with the works of Jules Verne. So my intrinsic motivation is really a bit of a nerd motivation emerged from books, movies and comics. By the way, my first school paper, 35 years ago, was also about virtual reality (VR). I still have the document on a 5.25 inch floppy disk. I can't access it anymore, unfortunately. But it does show: the subject has been relevant for a long time and has always fascinated me. 

I also knew early on that I wanted to do something with communication; I wanted to talk about how we are formed by the image we paint of each other through media. And about the different communication models that explain that. First from the point of view of the receiver (the public), but later also from the perspective of the maker and producer. Both groups have the same questions, but different interests and possibilities. One of the first questions I addressed from both perspectives was why we chose to watch a movie in the theater, a movie on television, or a videotape. Now that would include movies in virtual reality. And what is actually watching a film in VR? And how does that change the making process?

What did you study yourself?
I got my PhD in communication sciences at Radboud University in Nijmegen.

Is this branch interesting because you turned out to be good at it? Or did you become good at it because you found it interesting?
Pooh, good question... I think the latter. I don't want to say that I am good at it. But because of my far-reaching fascination with the subject and the fact that I love doing this work so much, I do really want to perform. And I want to understand the subject and teach others about it. Most of all, I'm just really excited about my field. And I've found something in which I can express that well.

What is your role within MindLabs? 
One of the MindLabs domains is 'media'. I am there to support in that area. In terms of content, in setting up the agenda and by thinking about what we can do with new media. And as a connector, connecting the business, research and education sectors and bringing together various networks. In doing so, I help to connect the R and the D of R&D, especially where media innovations are concerned.

How long have you been a member of the family?
That's hard to say, because some parties within MindLabs I've known for a very long time. I worked with DPG Media, for example, about 20 years ago. But I think it must have been around the VIBE project in 2017. That's when we developed avatars for training in healthcare. This based on questions like 'How to develop realistic digital humans?' and 'What is the effect of VR realism on experience and behavior?'. 

What was the deciding factor; why did you join MindLabs?
The connections you make are very valuable. And maintaining those relationships is also easier once you are part of the ecosystem. In addition, MindLabs is ambitious. Together we have extra strength to be meaningful internationally as well. And I'm now contributing to a learning network, in a place that transcends each individual brand or discipline. 

What is the ultimate goal for you?
To awaken key players and together make a real difference, also internationally. Because by combining our strengths and knowledge, we can take on bigger projects. Take digital reality and virtual humans for example; making digital people. BUas is very good at developing the 'look'. But you also need knowledge of how the language works in such cases. And the behavioral side is also important. Because how such a person moves and what his or her personality is, is decisive for the success of such projects. MindLabs also has knowledge of all these other areas. That makes the end product better and saves a lot of valuable time. 

You bring a lot of knowledge and expertise with you. What does this collaboration bring you in the meantime? 
Access to that aforementioned network. Access to sometimes hard-to-access knowledge. More manpower. And a platform to communicate towards the market. My work often revolves around brainteasers. MindLabs enables me to research them properly and efficiently and gives me a platform to talk about them. That continues to be interesting. Because sometimes it's about innovations for tomorrow, sometimes about innovations for 5, 6 or 10 years from now. But by the time they actually arrive, we have just as many questions about things that are still to happen then. Questions that we discover in the projects and network of MindLabs.