T.L. Taylor, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been named a fellow for the 2026-27 academic year at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University. The CASBS is a prestigious residential program that brings together scholars from various disciplines for focused research and collaboration. Taylor, an ethnographer, will concentrate on her project examining the rise of immersion in physical spaces, particularly through the lens of theme parks. Her research aims to analyze how these spaces function as complex environments where design, infrastructure, and play intersect. With a significant background in digital environments, Taylor's work will explore the economic and cultural significance of theme parks, which, despite often being dismissed, play a crucial role in contemporary society. In 2025, theme parks saw 976 million visitors globally, and the Walt Disney Company's Experiences division reported $10 billion in profit. The fellowship will allow Taylor to engage with a diverse cohort of 36 scholars from 30 institutions, fostering an environment for intellectual exchange and collaborative research.