University of Hull launches three new PhD projects with Team GB

The University of Hull has announced it will deliver a new PhD cluster of research as part of its official partnership with Team GB.

The research projects will focus on three key themes - sustainability, social impact and athlete transition into retirement after competition – aligned to the strategic objectives of Team GB.

Team GB and the University of Hull are working in collaboration to launch the trio of new research projects.

It comes as part of an exclusive partnership between Team GB and the University, which spans the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Dr Dave Richards, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise at the University of Hull, said: “The University of Hull’s partnership with Team GB has provided unique opportunities for students and staff right across our organisation, from teaching and learning to research and knowledge exchange.

“I am delighted that the University can support Team GB through these three exciting PhD projects, which have been shaped around their strategy for the future.

The three PhD projects are as follows:

• Race to Zero: An Olympic journey

An interdisciplinary project featuring experts from the University’s Energy and Environment Institute and the Logistics Institute, this project aims to help Team GB understand its carbon footprint and develop a goal to reduce the overall environmental impact of its operations.

The research will be supervised by Dr Simon Waldman, who leads the MSc Renewable Energy programme at the University of Hull, alongside Professor Nishikant Mishra and Professor Dan Parsons, Director at the Energy & Environment Institute.

• Green2Gold

The aim of the proposed PhD programme is to develop a model for effectively implementing socially-prescribed greenspace activity in economically-disadvantaged areas.

Based in the University of Hull’s Sport, Health and Exercise Science department, the successful PhD candidate will work with a wide range of partner institutions, with the initial project being run in East Yorkshire. The project will involve the University partnering with high-profile regional and national non-profit organisations such as the National Forest Company and Wildlife Trusts.

The research will create recommendations on greenspace activity and how Team GB can make tangible steps within social impact to drive a healthier nation.

Green2Gold will be supervised by Professor John Saxton, Head of the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science at the University of Hull and Dr Caroline Douglas, a sport and exercise psychologist at the University.

• Sustaining Team GB athletes post-elite sport

Retirement from sport is an extremely significant ‘hot topic’ in contemporary sports research and is an area of huge importance to Team GB.

Together the University of Hull and Team GB hope to research and identify characteristics of various Olympic sports and post sport experiences. Longer term the project will provide critical insight and knowledge that can be used to support athletes’ careers and well-being in their life beyond sport.

Crucially, the aim is for the research is to inform and shape support provision for athletes both in the years preceding and post retirement.

Research will be supported by Dr Luke Jones, Professor Adam Nicholls and Dr John Toner.

Charlotte Thompson, Director of Strategic Planning & Research at Team GB, said: “We are proud to launch these three strategic PHD opportunities with the University of Hull.

“With the university’s research power, expertise and support and our insight and ambition at Team GB we are excited to see what we can achieve.”

Earlier this year, Team GB double Olympic Champion Max Whitlock MBE was announced as a new ambassador for the University of Hull.

Max will give students the opportunity to gain insight into the mindset of an elite athlete at the pinnacle of their profession.

Max is the first ever British artistic gymnast to win gold at the Olympic Games – and as one of Britain’s great sporting heroes, is set to bring to life the University’s ambition to inspire students, staff and the public to find their extraordinary.