The Science and Engineering of Sport Surfaces

Sharon Dixon is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics at the University of Exeter where she leads the Exeter Biomechanics Research Team. Her research is in improving understanding of injury mechanisms in sport and exercise, with a particular focus on footwear and playing surfaces. Her recent work has included an interdisciplinary project on natural turf surfaces with Dr Iain James and a project in collaboration with Dr Matt Carre combining biomechanical and mechanical methods to improve understanding of surfaces used in tennis and the potential influence on injury.

Paul Fleming is a Reader in Ground Engineering at Loughborough University and leads a research team in the area of sport surface science. His background is in advanced testing of geo-materials, including a PhD in dynamic impact testing, and geotechnical design and construction experience translated into the under-researched topic sport surface science in 2001. He sits on several technical committees including the BS committee for sport surface testing (PRI/57) and he founded the global SportSURF research network in 2005.

Iain James is Technical Director at TGMS Ltd, a Sports Surface Design Consultancy based in the UK and delivering new construction and renovation projects from recreational to international elite sport venues. He was formerly Senior Lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences at Cranfield University in the UK, leading a research programme in Sports Surface Engineering and Technology that aimed to develop improved safety, performance and sustainability in sports surface design and construction.

Matt Carre is a Reader in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield and leads research in the area of human-environment interactions, including those that involve sports surfaces. His first experience of sports surfaces research was in 1996 during his PhD study that included replicating and assessing over 15,000 impacts between cricket balls and pitches. Matt has since examined traction of association football shoes and more recent work includes the development of a biomechanically informed lab-based system to simulate tennis shoe-surface interactions (in collaboration with Sharon Dixon).