Exercise, Sports and Health

The Second Joint Research Conference of the Universities of Gloucestershire and Chemnitz took place at the Chemnitz University of Technology from 09th to 11th of September 2009. There were presenters from seven different nations in the lecture theatre. The very close partnership of the two institutions is characterised by a very active student exchange programme, joint teaching modules and some collaborative research which has been extended after the conference as well as several extracurricular guest lectures. In 2007 our friends from Gloucester invited us to our first joint conference and set the standard. The topics of the 2009 Conference were Public health and Sports with three main areas of interest:

1. Physiology and Biomechanics,
2. Philosophy and Social Science,
3. Prevention, Rehabilitation and Health Promotion.

Many interesting and inspiring presentations were given by colleagues, PhD students and research students. One example of inspiration was the Clem Burke Drumming Project (S. Draper and M. Smith), which we were kindly invited to join. This is an example par excellence on how to conduct international research by simply using existing resources and talking to each other. It caused huge interest among colleagues across the whole university that Chemnitz did not only follow the example of our colleagues in Gloucester, but also widened the research interest into the application of different types of drumming as a means of therapy. This was the beginning of the DRUM BEAT Project (P. Wright of the Chair of Sports Medicine). Furthermore, both universities - Chemnitz and Gloucester - are trying to establish outreaching programmes with local communities which have practical implications of research in the context of public health and/or health promotion. One of the presentations for instance referred to a concept called the Healthy Town Project Tewkesbury, a similar project is planned for Chemnitz called Healthy Community. These two outreaching programmes and other research synergies could be part of an attempt of both universities to establish stronger international research links and in this context also submitting joint proposals to funding agencies, i.e. the EU. Since this conference a joint EU research proposal was submitted by colleagues in Gloucester.
Also, talks were held on the topic of establishing a joint international degree. Understandably a project of this scale will take more than a couple of conferences and work on both sides is necessary and last but not least is also depending on the political and funding situation. However, first small step was taken after the conference by conducting a joint teaching module in the Ore Mountains /Saxony. Students from both institutions and colleagues conducted a research project comparing physiological and cognitive parameters of cross-country skiing and running. Social and intercultural processes were just as important during this winter camp. Some of the data is presented in this book. I trust that the colleagues of both universities do agree that this is an outstanding and very productive partnership with a lot of potential for future development and I am looking forward to many more joint schemes, projects and conferences to come - perhaps even an international degree.
Prof. Dr. Henry Schulz