UCLan SENS graduation messages

UCLan SENS would like to wish our graduates all the best for the future.

On behalf of the Division, Howard Hurst and Steph Dillon have sent the following messages:

Howard: "Well done to all the graduates of the Sports and Exercise Physiology Top-Up degree. I hope you've enjoyed the last 12 months and good luck in all your future endeavours. It's been a pleasure teaching you all."

Please click below to hear Steph's sound clip.

Farmers' Market project boosts student's development

The SENS Division are currently undertaking a number of research projects as part of the UCLan's Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS).

URIS offers students the opportunity to work with UCLan academics on research projects which have real research outputs. Since the scheme launched in 2008, nearly 200 interns have worked directly with researchers on a variety of projects across the university.

'Food Safety Practices and Capability at Farmers' Markets in North West England' is led by Dr Carol Wallace and Dr Brigit Ramsingh, with Lawrence Copson the assigned intern.

The project is looking at current attitudes, beliefs, practices and knowledge of food safety among farmers' market vendors in the North West, with a focus on Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Through interviews, observation and surveys, current food safety facilities and educational materials will be assessed to identify additional training needs and potential barriers in establishing a positive food safety culture.

The study will run for 15 months from July 2014 - October 2015. This research follows on from a collaboration with Dr Ben Chapman from North Carolina State University, who was a UCLan distinguished research visitor in 2013. Dr Chapman has carried out a similar study looking at food safety practices at farmers' markets in the United States.

Lawrence took on the research project after successfully completing his degree in History. He said: "The aim of the research is to determine if there are any gaps within the current food safety guidelines for Farmers' Markets. We will then seek to create or add further guidance to Market managers or vendors. I'm well versed in multiple research processes and techniques having tackled History.

"Although Food Safety is a different subject for me, I have a passionate interest in food and the production stages that come with it. The opportunity to travel to various towns and villages across the North West to observe this stage of produce trade is a great experience with regards to my personal interest in food and for my professional development in research practices."

Lancashire Science Festival wows crowds once again

UCLan SENS staff took part in the hugely successfully Lancashire Science Festival 2014 (LSF14) held at the University at the end of June.

Visitors to the three-day spectacle were treated to awe-inspiring shows, experiments and hands-on activities.

The Festival featured a number of opportunities to speak directly to leading UCLan SENS researchers Dr Swrajit Sarkar, Dr Stephanie Dillon, Dr Howard Hurst and others from the team about the impact and focus of their work.

The One Show's resident scientist Marty Jopson, Nick Arnold, author of the Horrible Science books, a giant inflatable planetarium and the first ever IncrEDIBLE Science Cake-Off - a baking competition with a science theme - were some of the highlights of LSF14, while the ever-popular Titan the Robot was also on campus to entertain the crowds.

Weighing in at a staggering 300kg, the eight foot super robot has taken audiences by storm with his unique concept of performance and has become a popular fixture at the Lancashire Science Festival.

UCLan was hosting the event for the third time, with large numbers of adults and children of all ages in attendance over the three days. To see highlights from the event please click here.

Professor presents at global gathering

Professor Nicola Lowe is set to present her research work at the Micronutrient Forum Global Conference being held in Ethiopia this week.

The Micronutrient Forum is a consultative group that brings together people from a wide array of sectors who share an interest in reducing micronutrient malnutrition and Professor Lowe has been invited to present her findings from her collaborative project carried out in Pakistan with the Abaseen Foundation.

To view the project summary please click here.

Académica de Coimbra welcome UCLan SENS

UCLan SENS' Dr Howard Hurst is currently in Portugal working with one of the country's top football teams.

Dr Hurst has accompanied Master of Research student Matt Beenham to Académica de Coimbra to look at the effectiveness of small-sided training games in football for replicating match intensities.

The duo are conducting a series of tests on the squad who finished eighth in Primeira Liga last season.

To find out more about Dr Hurst please click here.

Research paper scoops top award

Sport Technology Course Leader Dr Jonathan Sinclair has received a prestigious award from the Journal of Human Kinetics.

Dr Sinclair's collaboration with Dr Paul Taylor from UCLan's School of Psychology and Dr Lindsay Bottoms from the University of East London saw them awarded Paper of the Year 2013 from the Journal’s committee.

The paper, entitled 'The Appropriateness of the Helical Axis Technique and Six Available Cardan Sequences for the Representation of 3-D Lead Leg Kinematics During the Fencing Lunge', was the culmination of work carried out in our biomechanics laboratory in Darwin Building.

Dr Sinclair & Dr Bottoms conduct extensive research into Fencing – both biomechanics and physiology - and have strong links to British Fencing, with Dr Bottoms representing GB in the sport.

To access the paper please click here.

Student travels Down Under with Warriors

Mark (centre) with Sean O'Loughlin & Pat Richards

PhD student Mark Quinn travelled to the World Club Challenge in Australia as part of a research collaboration between UCLan SENS, Wigan Warriors and the Rugby Football League (RFL).

The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match played between the champion clubs of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League.

Wigan have won the Challenge three times and after securing the League and Cup double in 2013 they earned the right to play Sydney Roosters in this year’s competition.

We spoke to Mark on his return to the UK to find out more:

"I'm currently Warriors' Head of Sports Science. The purpose of the trip was to travel with the team to assist with preparations leading up to the game and during it.

"I also conducted a piece of research on behalf of UCLan, looking into the physiological demands of the World Club Challenge.

"This is one of the greatest challenges you can face as a rugby league player, not simply because it’s a game between the two best club sides in the world, but through the various demands placed on the athletes.

"They travel through 12 time zones, play rugby under a different climate (from a freezing UK winter to the end of an Australian summer) and are away from family, friends and home comforts for over two weeks.

"The research assessed the effects of some of these demands. Global Positioning System (GPS) data was collected for the World Club Challenge game.

"This is an athlete tracking system that provides us with information on the distance covered, speeds run at, number of accelerations, information on collision and physical contact. We can compare this data against regular Super League, NRL and international rugby league games.

"To look into the effect of training and travel, players completed daily wellbeing questionnaires to assess their body soreness, their quality of sleep and general mood.

"Urine osmolality testing assessed the hydration status of the players which became a particular concern due to the warm weather.

"Importantly the trip helped to build relationships with NRL teams in order to further assess the physical demands of rugby league through seasonal assessments of GPS data.

"Furthermore, there will be a full analysis of the tour itinerary, the recovery methods in travel & training, the diet & supplementation and wellbeing of players to identify the best methods to be optimally prepared for a game of this standard.

"Despite Wigan losing the game this research will hopefully help future teams in the preparation of long distance tours in the future."