‘Face to Face with Sports Science’ begins today in Manchester

23 March 2012

Researchers from the School of Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University are bringing the science of London 2012 to life in a series of free events across the North-west of England. The first event in the ‘Face to Face with Sports Science’ series takes place today with a schools workshop at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry.

When the difference between a gold and a silver medal can come down to less than 0.01 per cent, each performance gain an athlete can make counts. Every athlete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be taking advantage of advances in sports science to make sure they deliver their best on the day.

Aiming specifically to raise awareness of sports science, the Face-to-Face project will see LJMU hosting interactive exhibits at National Museums Liverpool and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), as well as conducting workshops for schools in Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

At the MOSI event, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science Greg Whyte, who has trained numerous celebrities to take part in gruelling endurance events in aid of Sport Relief, is teaming up with Olympic bronze medallist and British heavyweight boxer David Price to show pupils how science can make a difference in athletic performance. Professor Whyte will reveal the science behind the most advanced training methods, techniques and equipment used by the world's leading athletes and coaches, including those taking part in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

On Saturday, a free exhibit opens to the public at MOSI, where visitors will get a first-hand appreciation of the physical and psychological assessments elite athletes use to help them prepare for and compete in major competitions through a series of interactive pods.

LJMU's Dr John Dickinson, who is leading the project, said: "The purpose of 'Face to Face with Sports Science' is to expose people to key scientific and technological developments in Sports and Exercise Science in a hands-on and accessible manner. We can't all be professional footballers or Olympic athletes, but we can all have an interest in health, nutrition and exercise."

‘Face to Face with Sports Science’ is supported by a People Award from the Wellcome Trust and a Royal Society Partnership Grant.

School workshop dates

23 March, Museum of Science and Industry
22 June, Liverpool World Museum
6 July, Liverpool World Museum
19 October, Museum of Science and Industry

Exhibit dates

24 March, Museum of Science and Industry
23 June, Liverpool World Museum
7 July, Liverpool World Museum
20 October, Museum of Science and Industry

Image: Schoolchildren taking part in a sports lesson. Credit: Anthea Sieveking, Wellcome Images.