META-MUSEUM consortium partners are actively sharing their cutting-edge research across Europe, reinforcing the project’s commitment to a new, human-centered approach to cultural heritage. In June 2025, our team represented the project at major events in Warsaw, Brussels and Athens.
At Europeana 2025 in Warsaw—a major hybrid event attracting over 600 people from more than 33 countries—the Friedrich Schiller University Jena Team, represented by Prof. Dr. Sander Münster, introduced the META-MUSEUM project. The presentation highlighted our ongoing work to explore cultural experiences through a neurophysiological and cognitive lens, focusing on the development of a unique ‘toolbox’—a prototype framework integrating narrative, media, and technology to foster participation and co-creation. The project’s introduction was met with strong interest and in-depth discussions among the audience, demonstrating the sector’s appetite for innovative, data-driven approaches.
In Athens, at the symposium ‘The Future of Humanities and Social Sciences in Greece,’ co-organized by our associated partner MIET (National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation) and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, our partner KMOP (Social Action and Innovation Centre) showcased an interdisciplinary methodology that offers a novel perspective on visitor engagement. Dr. Vassilis Margaritis delivered a presentation on the project’s innovative tools and interpretive models, which analyze neurophysiological, psychometric, and socio-economic data to better understand the emotional and cognitive responses of museum visitors. As Dr. Margaritis emphasized, “Connecting these fields with neuroscience can offer innovative responses to contemporary challenges… it is the humanities that bring ethical and political awareness into the equation.”
This pioneering approach was further underlined by a separate presentation from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam represented by Dr. Kallioupi Ioumpa on ‘The Transformative Potential of Cultural Heritage: A Neuro-Physiological Study.’ The research investigates how encounters with heritage influence cognitive and emotional states using a multi-modal experimental paradigm. Participants stood on a force platform to measure subtle postural shifts while EEG recordings captured brain activity and a wearable wristband monitored physiological arousal. This combination of measures provides a nuanced view of how heritage can elicit embodied, affective, and cognitive responses.
Together, these presentations highlighted our project’s view of cultural heritage not as a static entity, but as a living, transformative experience that fosters empathy, confidence, and a deeper understanding. To stay informed about where META-MUSEUM partners will showcase our ongoing research and events, be sure to follow us on our social media platforms.