Autumn 2016
INSIDE SPORT AND
EXERCISE SCIENCES
Welcome to the new Academic Term
Contents
Welcome to all new and
returning students. We
SCHOOL UPDATES
Doctorates/Degrees/Awards
3
hope you enjoyed your
New Facilities
5
summer break and feel
Strong League Table Position
5
ready for the start of the
Staff Changes
6
new academic year.
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
Rio2016 Olympics/Paralympics
7
This edition brings you all
Other Winners
8
the School’s updates and
STAFF/STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
latest news.
Outreach Activities
10
International Partnership
10
Student Success (EDI) Project
10
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT 11
The UK’s European university
New Publications/Articles
12
Upcoming Conferences/Dates
13
ALUMNI NEWS
14
3
SCHOOL UPDATES
Doctorates/Degrees/Awards
Inside Story Headline Inside Story Headline
Doctor of Philosophy Sport and Exercise Science and
Sports Therapy
Luca Angius: Thesis title: The effect of transcranial direct current
stimulation on exercise performance.
Supervisors were Dr James Hopker & Dr Lex Mauger. (Due to graduate at
November 2016 Congregations).
Alister McCormick: Thesis title: Psychologically-Informed Methods of
Enhancing Endurance Performance.
Supervisors were Dr Carla Meijen and Professor Samuele Marcora. ((Due to
graduate at November 2016 Congregations).
Sarah Coakley: Thesis title: Individualised Methods of Prescribing Exercise
in Cycling. (Graduated at July 2016 congregations).
Honours Degrees
The alumni community
Congratulations to all our students who graduated at the July Congregation
As a Kent graduate you become part
of our global alumni community, with
more than 150,000 members in 200
countries worldwide. Membership of
the alumni community is free,
at Rochester Cathedral.
Total number of students who graduated this year was as follows:
POS
SPORTEXHEALTH:BSC
Graduates
9
automatic and inclusive: once you
leave Kent we will stay in touch with
SPORTEXMAN:BA
9
2 First Class
4 Upper Second
SPORTEXSCI:BSC
26
7 First Class
9 Upper Second
SPORTSCI:BSC
SPORTSTHERAPY:BSC
2
41
you and you will always be welcome
on campus or at one of our many
events around the world.
Staying in touch
Register for our online alumni
community, keep your contact details
Honours Awarded
1 First Class
3 Upper Second
TOTAL
87
20 First Class
16 Upper Second
30 First Class
32 Upper Second
up to date and keep up with the latest
news from Kent! You will receive our
monthly alumni e-newsletter and – as
long as we have a postal address for
you – KENT magazine twice a year.
Follow us on Twitter, or like
our Facebook page to connect with
fellow alumni.
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
4
SSES Prize Winners
Jade Henderson
Francesca Waters
Jade Henderson
SSES Prize Final Year Prize in 2015.
Francesca Waters
Faculty of Sciences Rotary Prize in recognition of
distinguished performance in the Stage 3 examinations.
Human Kinetics Prize for highest scoring Dissertation on
the BSc (Hons) Sport and Science programme.
Ellanor Thurston
Faculty of Sciences Rotary Prize in recognition of
distinguished performance in the Stage 3 examinations
Andrew Goldsmith
Faculty of Sciences Dean’s Prize in recognition of
outstanding performance in the Stage 3 examinations.
Human Kinetics Prize for Highest Scoring Dissertation on
the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy programme.
Edward Frost
Human Kinetics Prize for Highest Scoring Dissertation on
the BA (Hons) Sport and Exercise Management
programme.
Chanel Hemmings
Human Kinetics Prize for Highest Scoring Dissertation on
the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise for Health programme.
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
5
New Facilities
We are excited to let you know that this Autumn we have
opened our new Environmental Chamber at Medway Park. The
specialised equipment for the analysis of the body's response to
endurance exercise has already been used by the Honda Racing
Corporation, who have spent three days of exhaustive physical
and mental endurance tests in the School’s prestigious medical
facilities, including Sports Therapy Clinic, Rehab Gym and Sports
Science laboratories at Medway Park Regional Sporting Centre
of Excellence.
The state-of-the-art Biomechanics and Psychobiology
laboratories, with a specialised motion capture system will be
opening shortly in the Medway Building. There is still some work
to be completed before it can be used.
These new facilities have been delivered as part of a £250,000
University investment into facilities within the School.
Strong League Table Position
Sports Science at Kent was ranked 13th in The Complete
University Guide 2017.
For graduate prospects, Sports Science at Kent was ranked 8th in
The Guardian University Guide 2017.
Sports Science students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were
the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study
opportunities (DLHE).
6
Staff Changes
Dr Sakis Pappous,
New Interim Head of School
Welcome letter to all new students
There have been a number of major changes to our Academic Staff and roles
o
o
o
Professor Louis Passfield has stepped down from Head of School and is now on sabbatical
leave
Dr Sakis Pappous is now Interim Head of School / Reader
Dr Mark Burnley is Acting Director of Research
o
Kyra De Coninck is Chief Examiner
o
Dr John Dickinson is Student/Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) Chair
o
Dr James Hopker is Acting Director of Graduate Studies (Research)
o
Sadie Jones is on maternity leave
o
Dr Niki Koutrou is Programme Director for Management
o
o
o
Profession Samuele Marcora is on sabbatical leave
Karthik Muthumayandi is Programme Director for Sports Therapy
Dr Carla Meijen is our Senior Tutor and Disciplinary Officer
o
Dr Samantha Winter is the Director of Education
Welcome to our two new members of staff:
o Hugh Thomson, Sessional Lecturer
o Emma Mundy, Sports Technician
and two farewells:
o Olivia Corke, Marketing Officer
o Laura McPherson, Sports Therapy Technician/Lecturer
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
7
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
The summer has brought international success
to Team GB in the Olympics and Paralympics.
More importantly it has also brought
tremendous worldwide recognition to the
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences with
high demand for our expertise, opinions and
participation in all forms of media coverage.
The work our academics have been involved
with has made such a positive difference to
supporting athletes competing at these games
and other international sporting events.
Here are some of our highlights:
Sports Doping – winning at any cost – BBC Horizon
Dr Lex Mauger featured on BBC 2’s Horizon on Tuesday
19 July talking about sports doping and winning at any
cost. Dr Mauger’s research looked at the role of
exercise-induced pain on fatigue and pacing, and the
use of self-pacing in testing for maximal oxygen uptake
and exercise performance. Prior to the Rio Olympics,
BBC presenter, Dr Xand van Tulleken investigated the
world of performance enhancing drugs and which are
currently undetectable. Dr Tulleken used the Medway
sports laboratory to look at the legal ways some
athletes try to gain the edge. View Article
Dr Sakis Pappous, Interim Head of
School, worked in Brazil to produce an
important guide for journalists at the
Paralympics this summer. The guidelines are
aimed at ensuring focus on the person rather
than the disability and provide the
opportunity to promote positive perceptions
of disability and sports internationally. Dr
Pappous used knowledge gained from
London 2012 to guide media coverage of
Paralympic Games to change societal
perceptions about disability. View Article
Download PDF (4.6 MB)
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
8
Dr John Dickinson, spoke about the support provided
by the Respiratory Clinic to the GB Swimmers over the
past 4 years in the build up to the Olympic Games.
Over this time we worked with swimmers to optimise
total airway health. This involved investigating upper
and lower airway function and screening the team for
asthma related issues.
 Supported athletes competing at the Rio Olympic
and Paralympic Games.
 From Olympic Team GB squad the Respiratory
Clinic tested 26 % of athletes involved with Gold
Medals, 35% Silver and 18% Bronze
 Respiratory Clinic has screened several
Professional Football teams for asthma over the
past 12 months including: Arsenal FC, Hull FC,
Brentford FC and Gillingham FC. We have also
worked with individual players from Liverpool FC
and Everton FC.
 All the work carried out by the Respiratory Clinic is
support by PhD and MSc students who gain
valuable work experience with elite athletes,
coaches and medical staff.
Conference website
View Article
Explains TUEs and asthma
Dr John Dickinson has provided numerous comments
and insights concerning Therapeutic Use Exemptions
(TUEs) and asthma on respiratory problems in athletes.
He has been explaining why so many elite athletes
have asthma following the leak of selected athletes’
medical records by Russian cyber hacking group the
Fancy Bears.
To date, he has provided comment and insight for
The Guardian, including Sean Ingle’s article What is a TUE?
11 key questions on the Fancy Bears Wada leaks , The Times,
The Irish Times, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sun, BBC
Sportsweek, BBC Radio 5 Live, Sky News and Newsnight ,
amongst others. View Video View Article
Luke Debono
Another great overall victory for Sport
Sciences student and body builder Luke
Debono. Luke won overall winner in the 2016
Ben Weider Legacy Cup. A compilation of
Malta's Luke Debono winning the overall
100kg class, posing routine and as well his
overall victory. Luke has also just won gold in
100+ kg category overall title at the 2016
Arnold Classic Europe in Barcelona.
View Video
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
9
STAFF/STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
COPD & Singing Project (Lambeth & Southwark)
Final spirometry and functional capacity testing in this project was completed over the summer. Anna
Jackson (PhD student) and Roisin Sullivan (SSES undergraduate alumni) assisted Dr John Dickinson and
Dr Steve Meadows with data collection in Surrey Quays, Dulwich and Streatham. This is a collaborative
project with Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) and the preliminary results will be presented to
the St Thomas’ Charity (project sponsors) at a singing event in London on 21st November 2016. Dr
Dickinson & Dr Meadows are also named on a COPD & Singing project planned to be run in Medway in
2017 in collaboration with CCCU and Medway Community Healthcare. This will involve the testing of a
large number of COPD patients, so if the grant application gets approval we will need to recruit some
research assistants to assist with this work. Speak to either John or Steve if you are interested in being
involved in this project.
Exercise & Parkinson’s Disease
Exercise can be used as medicine in the management of chronic debilitative disease conditions, like
Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Research has shown that it can slow down the rate of disease progression, but
also promote health and well-being. The new weekly evening exercise sessions at St. Mary’s Island
Community Centre in Chatham (ME4 3EP) are designed to provide an appropriate exercise stimulus for
people with PD. The session lasts 1 hour (1830 - 1930) and contains elements of musculo-skeletal
strength, flexibility, agility, balance, co-ordination (synchronisation of limb movements) and cognitive
stimulation. The session is being run by Dr Steve Meadows and Roisin Sullivan (SSES alumni) with the
assistance of 3rd year undergraduate students on the Sport Science programme (Brad Allen, Dan
Dunne, Mark Johnson Brogan Lintott, Ollie Miller, Shanice Small, Matt Tapley, Erika Tituana and Sam
Wood) and Sport, Exercise and Health programme (Victoria Hunt). Ian Abercrombie (3rd year Sports
Therapy) is undertaking an evaluation of the health and fitness testing data. This is a new venture for
SSES working with Parkinson’s UK and the local Parkinson’s working age support group and will
hopefully lead to more formal research opportunities in the future. Funding for the exercise class project
is being provided by Parkinson’s Equip. If there are any other students who are interested in getting
some clinical exercise instructor experience with Parkinson’s sufferers please contact Dr Steve Meadows
([email protected]).
Medway Park Stroke Rehabilitation Session
This exercise class for stroke patients has now been running for 1 year. A referral pathway was set-up in
2015 with Medway Community Healthcare Stroke Rehabilitation Team, whereby they could refer their
patients for continued exercise rehabilitation under the supervision of a qualified stroke rehabilitation
instructor (Roisin Sullivan, SSES alumni). The session runs on a Thursday afternoon in the Fitness Zone
at Medway Park between 1600 – 1730 hours and has seen over 300 patient attendances in the sessions
over the last 12 months. Participants receive an initial evaluation of health and functional capacity
parameters which are repeated after 10 sessions. There are 5 SSES students providing instructor support
during the weekly exercise sessions from the BSc (Hons) Sport Science (Sam Lovage), Sport & Exercise
for Health (Victoria Hunt, Bradley Storey, Olyvia Geohagen) and Sports Therapy (Efe Walker). Students
also assist with the evaluations and data collection on participants and are completing their final year
dissertation projects in this clinical exercise session, as well as honing their practical skills. Roisin did a
poster presentation of results from the stroke rehabilitation exercise sessions at the 2016 BACPR
Exercise Professionals Study Day at Aston University, Birmingham. If there are any other students who
are interested in getting some clinical exercise instructor experience in stroke rehabilitation please
contact Roisin Sullivan ([email protected] ).
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
10
Medway Exercise Referral Scheme
Phil Carr visited the Medway Campus on Tuesday 11th October to talk to students studying the thirdyear module SS523 Exercise Prescription, Referral & Rehabilitation. Phil can offer students work
experience in Medway Council gym facilities, working with a range of populations who have been
referred for exercise. Those interested in personal training, gym instruction, public health work, etc. can
contact Phil for further details [email protected] - no formal qualifications are necessary.
In September Dr Niki Koutrou was engaged in the 2016 Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research
Conference held in Nottingham, where she presented two studies, one about the Volunteering Legacy of
London 2012.This presentation was the result of an undergraduate thesis that a final year student, Ms
Anna Johnson undertook and Dr Koutrou supervised. The other presentation on sport policy
implementation and its impact on community physical activity funded programme delivery was
delivered by my PhD student, Anees Ikramullah and is part of his PhD research. In October Dr Niki
Koutrou and the Research Assistant working on this project, delivered a presentation of our consultancy
work about the declining levels of participation in adult 11 v 11 football in Kent that was commissioned
to us by the Kent Football Association (Kent FA) after successfully applying for a grant of £9770 with Dr
Sakis Pappous. The presentation took place at the Kent FA premises and was attended by the CEO and
board as well as staff members of Kent FA. Along with the presentation, a written report will be
provided to these key stakeholders of Kent FA.
Outreach Activities
Psyching Team presence at the Kent Coastal Marathon
For the second year running a group of Psyching team
volunteers, including two postgraduate students from
SSES, provided mental support before, during, and after
the Fosters Law Kent Coastal Marathon and Half
Marathon. Runners could speak to the team for some last
minute mental tips to help with any nerves. During the
course the psyching team, in addition to encouraging the
runners, we also acted as ‘hill buddies’ where the team ran
alongside some runners at the final hill at Mile 24.
The Psyching Team has been set up by Dr Carla Meijen as
part of last year’s Beacon Project. If you want to know
more about how to run a psyching team, she has
published a paper on this in The Journal of Sport
Psychology. View Article
International Partnership
Activities
In August, Jane Glew, Deputy Director and
staff from the University’s International
Partnerships team visited a number of
American Universities to look into new
student exchange partnerships and also
possible Internships within their sports
facilities.
Following on from this Internationalisation
trip, Erin Hillis, Associate Director of
International Programmes for Rhodes
College Memphis visited the Medway
campus in September for a brief tour of
our facilities.
Student Success (EDI) Project
Since September 2015, the School has been conducting research as part of the University’s Student
Success Project. The project is driven by the University’s Ethnicity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) agenda,
and focuses on minimising the attainment gap between different student groups. Over the last
academic year, Stephen Earl (Research Associate) and Joel Chidley (Research Assistant) have conducted
a questionnaire study and focus group discussions to investigate how students’ motivation may
underpin university attainment. The project is overseen by Dr Carla Meijen and Professor Louis
Passfield.
This current academic year (2016-17) the project aims to test how different academic support strategies
may enhance students’ academic motivation and attainment. This research involves students within the
SSES and other academic schools on both the Canterbury and Medway campuses. The recruitment for
this project is currently on-going and any students that are interested or would like to take part can
contact Stephen Earl ([email protected]: M2 -30a: 01634 88(8457).
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
11
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Professor Samuele Marcora
Honda riders prepare in Medway for international rally.
As part of the new collaboration between the University of Kent and Honda HRC, the School is liaising
with the Honda team as consultants on how to reduce physical and mental fatigue during the Dakar
Rally, which takes place in South America, and other gruelling rally competitions.
Motorcycle riders from Spain, Portugal, France, Argentina and the USA have been preparing for the
Dakar rally having spent three days of exhaustive physical and mental endurance tests in the School’s
prestigious medical facilities at Medway Park.
View Article
View Honda HRC Website
“Physiologically you
may be fine but
mentally fatigued
athletes find the same
task much more
effortful,”
–Dr Samuele Marcora.
Professor Samuele Marcora
Figuring out fatigue: A tired brain can hinder performance as
much as a tired muscle
Our work on mental fatigue and its practical applications nicely
reviewed in Sports Illustrated.
Elite cyclists are more resilient to mental fatigue
Co-authored a report in the journal Plos One entitled Superior
Inhibitory Control and Resistance to Mental Fatigue in
Professional Road Cyclists. As Chris Froome celebrated his third
Tour de France victory, research shows elite cyclists are more
resilient to mental fatigue. View Article
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
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Dr Lex Mauger
In August Dr. Lex Mauger went on a funded visit to Sao Paulo
University (Brazil) to deliver presentations at their Advanced
Winter School and to collaborate on a research project. A
parallel trip will take place, with academics from Brazil coming
to visit Kent in December this year. Sao Paulo is a large
University (>80,000 students) and is ranked in the top 250
Universities in the World.
Dr Glen Davison
Guest speaker at the Polish Society Of Sports Nutrition Annual Conference recently, where he gave two
talks (one on “Nutrition and Immunity in Athletes”, and another on “Nutrition and Gut Health in
Athletes”).
Dr Carla Meijen
Dr Carla Meijen convened and presented at the symposium ‘Endurance Performance: The role of selfregulation processes’ at the 9th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Motivation held in
Chicago. In this symposium, the influence of psychological variables on endurance performance was
discussed, as well the potential to inform psychological skills interventions. Joel Chidley also presented
some findings from his PhD as part of the symposium.
New Publications/Articles
J. Dyer, G. Davison, S. M. Marcora, Alexis R. Mauger (2016) -To investigate the effects of a
Mediterranean type diet on patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Participants: Ninety-nine volunteers with
OA (aged 31 – 90 years) completed the study (83% female). . The journal of nutrition, health &
aging (2016)
Download PDF (229 KB) View Article
Nigel Hardiman, Kristina Charlotte Dietz, Ian Bride, Louis Passfield. (Sept 2016) Pilot Testing of a
Sampling Methodology for Assessing Seed Attachment Propensity and Transport Rate in a Soil Matrix
Carried on Boot Soles and Bike Tires. Environmental Management DOI 10.1007/s00267-016-0773-4.
http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1007/s00267-016-0773-4…
L. Angius, B. Pageaux, J. Hopker, S.M. Marcora, A.R. Mauger (Oct 2016) Transcranial direct current
stimulation improves isometric time to exhaustion of the knee extensors. Neuroscience.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452216305589
Dr James Hopker, Senior Lecturer in Sports Science provides the "definitive answer" on the fastest way
to cycle to the top of a mountain. http://www.cyclist.co.uk/…/whats-the-fastest-way-to-the-top…
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
13
Upcoming Conferences/Term Dates
4 November 2016
Dr Glen Dickinson will be a guest speaker early next Month at an
event organised by the British Dietetic Association for their Sport &
Exercise Nutrition register on “Nutrition and Gut Health in Athletes”.
30 November 2016
TERM DATES/CLOSURE DATES
Academic Year
19 Sept 2016 – 17 Sept2017
December 2016
Dr Karen Hambly has been invited as keynote speaker for the
University of Delft’s Motion For Life lecture series in December 2016.
A team of researchers from the Endurance Research Group will
present at the upcoming Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Annual Conference in Cardiff. The symposium about novel strategies
for endurance performance will feature Paul Anstiss who will discuss
the role of sources of self-efficacy in endurance performance, Chris
Fullerton will share findings of the effect of a pacemaker on running
performance, Chiara Gattoni will discuss the effects of mental fatigue
on long-term endurance performance, Alister McCormick (now at
University of St Mark and St John) will review the findings of his work
on the application of the facial feedback hypothesis to endurance
performance, and finally Carla Meijen will share and reflect on setting
up and running a Psyching Team.
Sao Paulo University (Brazil) academics coming to visit to the School
and to collaborate with Dr Lex Mauger on a research project.
May 2017
Dr Karen Hambly has been invited to be on Faculty for the ‘Future of
Football Medicine’ conference in Barcelona in May 2017.
July 2017
Dr Niki Koutrou has had two abstracts accepted at the upcoming
Eighth International Conference on Sport and Society to be hosted in
London in July 2017. Anees Ikramullah, PhD student will present
some of his most recent findings and Dr Niki Koutrou will be
presenting about our work with Dr Sakis Pappous about the adult
male 11 v 11 football in Kent and how to sustain the participation
levels.
The academic year is split into
terms during which the student is
expected to engage with study.
The length and pattern of the
terms depend on the type of
programme the student is
following. The period between
each of the terms is a vacation
period. The University will be
closed over the Christmas period.
Undergraduate Programme
Autumn Term
26 Sept 2016 - 16 Dec 2016
Spring Term
16 Jan 2017 – 7 Apr2017
Summer Term
8 May 2017 - 16 Jun 2017
Postgraduate Taught Programme
Autumn Term
26 Sept2016 - 16 Dec 2016
Spring Term
16 Jan 2017 - 7 Apr 2017
Summer Term
8 May 2017 – 16 Sept 2017
www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences/
14
ALUMNI NEWS
Charlotte Evans MBE
BA Sport and Exercise Management Alumna 2015
2014 Winter Paralympic skiing gold medal winner
who combined with partner Kelly Gallagher to win the
Women’s Super G in Sochi. In the process, Charlotte and Kelly
became the first-ever British gold medalists at a Winter
Paralympics.
Our invited speaker for Welcome week talks was
Olympic medalist and Kent alumni, Charlotte
Evans MBE. Charlotte gave a memorable talk to
our new students about her experiences at the
Sochi Winter Paralympics, and the path to winning
a gold medal. Many of our students had the chance
to touch her Olympic medal and take pictures and
there was also a very interesting Q&R session.
Susannah Townsend
BSc Sport and Exercise Science Alumna 2014
Olympic gold medallist and Kent alumna,
Susannah Townsend, visited the University’s
Canterbury campus following her success with
the Team GB hockey team in Rio. The
Olympian, who plays as attacking mid-fielder,
won one of Britain’s total 27 gold medals .
View Article
Roisin Sullivan
BSc Sport Science Alumna 2015
Roisin Sullivan secured her stroke
rehabilitation exercise qualification using a
grant provided by the Medway Scholarship
Fund during her final year of studies. She has
gone on to work in cardiac rehabilitation,
pulmonary disease research assistant, stroke
rehabilitation, exercise for Parkinson’s Disease
and recently secured full-time employment
with Kent Community Healthcare as a
pulmonary rehabilitation assistant.
Her journey into clinical exercise rehabilitation
started during her second year BSc Sport Science
course where she undertook voluntary work
experience in a cardiac rehabilitation exercise
session. The value of this practical experience
should not be under-estimated as it helps with the
practical application of theory covered in the
second and third year of your SSES degree
programme, as well as developing communication
and other important employability skills.
Published by School of Sport and Exercise, Medway Building, University of Kent, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4AG