Inside Sport and Exercise Sciences / Autumn 2014

The UK’s European University

INSIDE SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCES Welcome to the September 2014 edition of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences newsletter, designed to provide cutting edge insights into the world of sport and exercise sciences and deliver the latest news from the school.

Newsletter | September 2014

2

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

INSIDE THIS EDITION NEWS Graduation and the Exam Board Kent Opportunity Fund World Congress of Cycling Science Kent’s 50th Anniversary STUDENT EXPERIENCE PhD Student Experience Cardiac Rehab Work Experience RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT Mental Fatigue Honorary Lectureships Does Cycling Help you Live Longer?

EMPLOYABILITY Employability Points NEW & RETURNING STAFF

News Graduation and the Exam Board Students graduating in July 2014 were part of our highest achieving cohort ever within the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. An incredible 64.3% of graduates achieved a First Class or Upper Second Class degree classification. The student with the best overall performance was BSc Sports Therapy student Daniel Camp with and average grade of 77.3%.

3

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

University of Kent Opportunity Fund Over the past few months we have engaged tenaciously with Outreach work into local communities. The school has had the privilege of running numerous projects and engage school children with the world of sports science.

Dr John Dickinson, Lecturer in Physiology & Head of the Respiratory Clinic here at the University of Kent has been at the forefront of our activity with UK school children.

Dr Dickinson’s work has involved introducing children to the science of exercise and physical activity. The Inside Sports Science initiative featured alongside activities from the British Heart Foundation and others at the British Cardiovascular Society annual children's event back on 3 June 2014 at Manchester Central (Central 5-7).

The university’s World Congress of Cycling Science also hosted a school’s event at The Rose Bowl in Leeds. SSES invited pupils from four Leeds primary schools to attend the event on Wednesday 2 July 2014. HaB direct supported the event, providing specialised equipment to inspire children to learn more about science and become more physically active.

With our counterparts from Liverpool John Moores University we delivered a 'Champion Science!' event in June. Champion Science! was designed to help the promotion of research used in sport and exercise to improve the health of the general population and elite performance of athletes. The programme gained a coveted place in the Universities UK public engagement event at the Natural History Museum in central London, where we had the pleasure of exhibiting alongside universities including the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

Dr Dickinson said: ‘These events are a great way to encourage young people to explore different ways science is used in sport. Funding for the student volunteers to work on the projects in Manchester and Leeds was provided by the University of Kent Opportunity Fund. The volunteers helped co-ordinate both of the events; without the University of Kent Opportunity Fund paying for travel and accommodation neither of these events would have been possible’.

USEFUL NUMBERS School Office Tel: 01634 888858 Finance Office Tel: 01634 888913 Student Administration Tel: 01634 888881 Student Support Tel: 01634 882999

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

4

World Congress of Cycling Science

Professor Louis Passfield and Dr. James Hopker organised a successful scientific cycling science conference in the lead up to this year’s Tour de France. A total of 282 delegates from across the world attended the two-day conference in Leeds, including representatives of the international cycling union (Union Cycliste International), sports scientists, team doctors and academics.

Ahead of the conference Professor Louis Passfield and Andy Galbraith featured on ITV. The pair demonstrated the science behind elite Tour de France cyclists for an ITV Meridian feature, which was first broadcast on 1 July.

Tinkoff-Saxo rider Nicolas Roche and cycling legend Brian Robinson - the first British rider to finish the Tour de France (1955) and win a stage (1958) - were just two of the many speakers at the conference. Brian Robinson opened the conference while Nicolas Roche, together with Ulrich Schoberer participated in a keynote session on the use of power meters in cycling.

Alongside ex-pro, current BMC Pro Cycling Team coach and three times Tour rider Marco Pinotti, Tim Moore, British travel writer, took a light-hearted look at what is required to ride a Grand Tour. Their discussion was chaired by Northern Ireland-born time trialling specialist and author Michael Hutchinson at the congress dinner.

5

World Congress of Cycling Science

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

6

Kent’s 50th Anniversary

It’s less than 100 days until the launch of our 50 th anniversary year and the start of an exciting programme of special projects and events to mark this significant milestone. Kent’s 50 th will be a year of celebrations, beginning with evening events in Canterbury on Wednesday 1 October and Medway 2 October. Make sure these dates are in the diary; it’s going to be a great night at both campuses.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE PhD Student Experience I am a third year PhD student investigating the effect of preoperative exercise on postoperative outcome. This research has involved randomising surgical patients to one of two conditions; exercise training alongside usual preoperative care or usual preoperative care alone. We are currently analysing the results to determine whether exercise training can alter postoperative outcome i.e. length of hospital stay and postoperative complications. In addition, I currently run the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) service at Medway NHS which involves assessing patients’ fitness for surgery. I am currently training two CPET internship students Roisin Sullivan and Natalie Wren to enable them the skills to work with clinical populations in the perioperative field. This role will allow them to assess patients fitness and extrapolate their risk for surgery, to assist patients with the decision making process.

Katharine Richardson, Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CPX Service) and Research Physiologist

Cardiac Rehabilitation Work Experience I first heard of Cardiac Rehabilitation at a University of Kent open day and since then have developed a huge interest and passion for it; I even hope to have a future career in this field. I am fortunate enough to have gained work experience with Medway Community Cardiac team and I attend this work experience once a week, either in the office or at an exercise class. In the office, I input patient data which contributes to lecturer Steve Meadows’ university study. At the exercise classes patients complete a circuit which consists of a number of stations that aim to improve and measure their cardiovascular fitness, strength and balance. The circuit is completed three times where the patients’ pulse is taken in between each circuit. During the exercise class I support patients who need extra assistance when completing the circuit or anyone who requires any additional motivation.

Natalie Wren, BSc Sport for Exercise and Health

7

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

Research Spotlight Mental Fatigue Professor Samuele Marcora’s research on mental fatigue has appeared extensively in the media, including the New York Times, Huffington Post and Runners World. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 2’s ‘All in the Mind’ being interviewed on the same topic. Professor Marcora was also filming in the Kent Sport Science labs at Medway Park recently for an episode in the news series of Guy Martin: Need for Speed on Channel 4; the programme is due to air around September.

Honorary Lectureship We are proud to announce the appointment of 3 exciting new Honorary Lecturers. Dr Jonathon Leeder, Dr Emma Ross and Len Parker-Simpson from the English Institute of Sport (EIS) will be joining SSES for academic collaboration with Professor Louis Passfield.

Dr Emma Ross is the Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport. Emma leads a team of 17 physiologists working at EIS high performance centres in Bisham Abbey, Loughborough, Manchester and Sheffield, providing physiological support to a range of Olympic sports including GB cycling, British Athletics, GB rowing and GB boxing.

Dr Jonathan Leeder is lead physiologist for the British Cycling team and head of the EIS physiology department in the North West of England. His career highlight to date was being an integral part of the highly successful track cycling team at London 2012.

Len Parker Simpson is a Physiologist with the English Institute of Sport and Lead Physiologist for Para-Cycling. In the past Len has worked in a variety of physiology roles including working as a physiologist to regional cyclists, gaining testing experience with Loughborough Sports Science Services and British Triathlon.

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

8

Does Cycling Help You Live Longer?

Fergus Walsh, Medical Correspondent for the BBC, interviewed Dr James Hopker back in May regarding health benefits of cycling. Dr Hopker, Senior Lecturer in the SSES was featured on the main BBC 6 and 10pm news, conducting one of the best measurements of cardiovascular health, the VO2 max test, on seasoned cyclist Fergus. Dr Hopker used the V02max test to understand the impact of endurance cycling on Fergus' heart and physiology. Evidently, Fergus scored 67.0 ml.kg.min which is a really good score for his age; cycling enhances an individual’s ability preserve much of their VO2max and so delays the decline in their cardiovascular health. A video of the news report can be seen here.

What’s it Like in Manaus?

In June, Dr. James Hopker was on BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. Dr. Hopker conducted a series of running tests on Newsbeat reporter Steffan Powell in SSES's environmental chamber. The tests, putting the reporter through his paces with a football fitness test in 30 degree heat and 80% humidity, were aimed at replicating the conditions England's footballers will face playing in the World Cup in Brazil. A short video of the news report can be seen here.

NEW FACTS Kent 3rd highest score for student satisfaction nationally Our students are amongst the UK's most satisfied with their academic experience.

In the National Student Survey 2014 we scored 91% in the 'overall satisfaction' category, substantially above the national average of 86%.

The University of Kent is ranked 11th amongst UK institutions for Sport Science according to the 2015 Guardian League Table.

The University of Kent rank 1st in London and the South East and 3rd throughout the UK for overall student satisfaction — 2014 National Student Survey 90-95% of students are employed or doing further study six months after finishing their course — Unistats 2014

9

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

Employability Employability Points The University of Kent’s ‘Employability Points’ scheme rewards students for active engagement in extracurricular activities during their time at Kent, encouraging students to stand out to prospective employers in the process. In 2013-14, the Employability Points Scheme offered 410 prizes. Students received opportunities to undertake internships, work experience and project placements with SMEs and large corporations alike. Students can gain points through activities such as Volunteering (10 -40 points), Mentoring (30 Points), Work Placements (15-100 Points) and Attending or Organising Events (10-40 Points). Those points gained can in turn be exchanged for the following prizes.

Reward

Points required

Internship Project placement Work experience Training Work shadowing Skills development Company experience Mock assessment centre Employability session Voucher Sponsored prizes

200 175 150 125 100 75 75 75 50 50 variable

Find out more: www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints

GET CONNECTED School YouTube www.youtube.com/user/UniKentSportSci School Facebook Site School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Kent School Twitter @UniKentSportSci

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

10

NEW & RETURNING STAFF Professor Louis Passfield Head of School & Lecturer

L.Passfield@kent.ac.uk

Room: M2-31 01634 888813

SSES are excited to announce that Professor Louis Passfield has returned as the Head of School at SSES this autumn following a year of sabbatical. Initially working as a Sports Scientist at the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education, Louis was appointed as Principal Lecturer at the University of Glamorgan in 2000. Having also worked for British Cycling in the build up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he joined Kent in 2007 as Head of School.

Karthik Muthumayandi Lecturer

K.Muthumayandi@kent.ac.uk

Room: M1-11 01634 888816

During the summer of 2014 SSES have had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Karthikeyan Muthumayandi as a Lecture in Sports Therapy. Karthik received his BSs (Hons) in physiotherapy from the Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R medical University, India in 1998. After teaching Biomechanics, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation in Nanda Institute of Physiotherapy for two years, he completed MPTh. in Physiotherapy from Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India in 2002. He worked as senior physiotherapist in charge of Sports and NeuroMusculoskeletal Rehabilitation for two years in the Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.

Karthik competed an MPhil from Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne in 2010. He was working as research physiotherapist from 2004 before he joined us at SSES this summer.

Bradley Cronk Marketing Officer

B.Cronk@kent.ac.uk

Room: M1-03 01634 888463

Bradley joined the school in March 2014 to support the continuing growth of SSES as one of the most rapidly developing sport science departments in the UK. Bradley has the role of raising the profile of the school and co-ordinating marketing activity. He received his BSc in Business and Management from the University of East Anglia in 2013 and is now an Affiliate Studying Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

11

www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

HAVE YOU GOT A STORY FOR THE INSIDE SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCES NEWSLETTER? Bradley Cronk Marketing Officer B.Cronk@kent.ac.uk 01634 882999

University of Kent Medway Building, University of Kent Medway Campus, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4AG

T: +44 (0) 1634 888858 F: +44 (0) 1634 888890 www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences