Following the success of the 2016 Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR) Conference, this year’s ISPAR Conference was held on Monday 12th June 2017 in the Gateway Building on Bedford campus at the University of Bedfordshire.

The theme for the conference centred on bridging the gap between research and practice. Our keynote speaker, Corey Beecher, a Cardiac Exercise Specialist at Bedford Hospital, opened the conference with an interactive session on ‘physical activity in action’.

The presentation was rounded off with some heart-warming talks from two of Corey’s clients who have used physical activity to improve their quality of life in older age.

Continuing with this theme, our staff and research students presented on some of the projects within ISPAR that have put physical activity in practice, including the new type 2 diabetes exercise clinic ran at the University.

This was followed by a range of student presentations from all areas of ISPAR, including exercise physiology, nutrition, biomechanics and the social sciences.

The conference was rounded-off with well-deserved awards to Michael Harrison (MSc by Research student) for the Best Student Oral Presentation and to Jade Horsley (BA Sports Studies student) for the Best Student Poster Presentation.

In total, 72 delegates attended the conference including staff, research students, taught postgraduate and undergraduate students from the University of Bedfordshire and from other universities (e.g., Loughborough University, Kingston University), representatives from Active Luton, Team Beds and Luton, Hertfordshire Sports Partnership and Bedfordshire Police, and local nutritionists.

Overall, the event was a tremendous success, with feedback forms indicating that it was extremely well organised and the focus on ‘physical activity in action’ was a particular highlight.

Thanks to everyone who helped to organise the conference and attended – we will see you next year!