Global leader in research

Our research and teaching addresses significant questions facing us now and in the near future.

Addressing inequalities, social justice, and health and wellbeing within and through sport, exercise and physical activity is central to what we do. We are a global leader across a range of sport and physical activity domains, including gender; age; race; disabilities; LGBTQIA+; the natural environment; nutrition; exercise referral; schools in deprived areas; and workforces.

We examine these by combining cross-discipline expertise and insight from psychology, sociology, geography, political sciences, public health, nutrition, and physiology to produce world-class research that makes a difference. We carry out research that shapes the field of the sport and exercise sciences rather than us being shaped by it. Our research is therefore future forming in that it changes what sport and exercise sciences can be rather than being constrained by what it was or is.

We are also global leaders in qualitative research and seek to advance new theories across different disciplines. Our research is supported by a range of funders, such as the ESRC, Wellcome Trust, AHRC, and NIHR. 

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