Spotlight on student research at Massey University sport conference

How athletes can beat the heat at next year's Tokyo Olympics to exploring the effects of a menstrual cycle phase on female rugby athletes' physical performance and iron status, were among the research topics explored at the recent Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand Conference.

The annual conference was hosted at Massey University’s Manawatu campus and attended by more than 120 academics, researchers and students from around New Zealand and the world. They were also joined by trainers from the New Zealand Defence Force, Police and high-performance sports organisations.

Focusing on emerging research and showcasing the work and findings of students, topics included high performance sport, coaching, physiology, strength and conditioning, nutrition and metabolism and sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Commenting on the success of the event, Associate Professor Andy Foskett, the Head of Massey University's school of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition stated "it is so important to bring researchers and students together to share ideas, collaborate and inspire the sports scientists of the future.

"We are proud to showcase our expertise, capabilities and capacity in sports exercise science through this conference and bring leading researchers from around the world to further attendees’ knowledge."

Among the presentations, David Howman, former Director General of the World Anti-Doping Agency, gave a global perspective of some of the major challenges threatening the integrity of sport, from doping to bribery and corruption, match fixing and more.

Howman, currently Chair of the Board of Directors at the Athletics Integrity Unit, advised "these issues deplete the value of sport and we need to realise how these areas are being attacked internationally.

"We have an opportunity as New Zealanders to lead in the area of sports integrity. We are known globally for our good reputation, for saying it how it is. We do not have an agenda and we as a country and people can play a leading role maintaining sport integrity, internationally."

Other speakers at the Conference included Research Associate Professor Jason Lee Yong Loo Lin - School of Medicine, National University of Singapore; Professor Narihiko Kondo of Japan's Kobe University; Distinguished Professor Aaron Coutts of the University of Technology Sydney and Dr Andy Cooke Bangor, University Wales.

Image: The Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand Conference explored the latest research across topics including high performance sport, medicine and rehabilitation. Courtesy of Massey University.