Over the last 2 months, The School of Sport and Exercise Science (SSES) have run a project, Inside Sports Science, for sixth form and college students across Kent and Medway. The event attracted 60 students from nine Partner and KMPF schools/colleges who engaged in a series of sports science workshops that helped them to explore questions such as ‘how does a hot environment affect exercise?’ and ‘what is the impact of pressure on performance?’
Students worked in small groups alongside an SSES ambassador who helped them to plan a project that explored the answers to these questions. They were given the opportunity to work in the laboratories to collect data and then used the computer facilities on the Medway campus to analyse any trends.
On Wednesday 29 March, the project culminated with a presentation evening that was held at the University of Kent’s Medway Campus to celebrate the achievements of all involved. This event was opened by Professor Nick Grief (Dean of Medway) and students had the chance to listen to a talk by elite wheelchair racer John Smith. In advance of this evening, students were required to prepare a research poster that displayed their findings. The winning poster was created by Mid-Kent College who had focused on the topic: ‘does stretching improve performance?
The School of Sport and Exercise Science are keen to run this event again in the future as students have benefitted from the opportunity to experience how investigations are conducted in a university environment.
For more information about this activity, please contact outreach@kent.ac.uk