Staff within the Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences have backgrounds in physical education teaching, sport and leisure research, policy and management, physical activity and health and sport and exercise science. The complexity of physical activity, sport and physical education has never been more relevant as a means to promote a healthy lifestyle or to acquire and enhance expertise. Moreover, the study of sport and the impact of sport policy upon society continues to provide an important lens through which to view our attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. There are significant global challenges which we seek to address, and sport and physical activity have a unique way of bringing people together and acting as a fulcrum for change.Established in 1999 as Physical Education Sport and Leisure Studies, the Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences affords considerable breadth in the expertise it offers. We facilitate and research:physical activityelite performance and coachingthe delivery and study of physical education across the curriculumsport and its profound impact upon societysports injury and illness and preventionWe are proud to be located within the Moray House School of Education and Sport, but our reach is global.We address all levels of education and all forms of teaching, research, knowledge exchange and professional learning. We emphasise applied practice, encouraging our students to implement theoretical knowledge and skills in a real-world setting.Finally, we have sought and seek to maintain a caring and inclusive learning environment where we strive to achieve excellence in all its guises.Study with usOur Institute provides specialist expertise in a range of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including routes to qualified teaching, or progression to doctoral study.Undergraduate programmesApplied Sport Science (BSc Hons)Physical Education (MA Hons)Sport Management (BSc Hons)Postgraduate programmesDance Science and Education (MSc/PgDip)Performance Coaching and Development - Online learning (MSc/PgDip/PgCert)Performance Psychology (MSc/PgDip)Physical Activity for Health (MSc/PgDip/PgCert)Sport Policy, Management and International Development (MSc)Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (PhD, MScR)Strength and Conditioning (MSc/PgDip)ResearchOur research vision is to create, disseminate and curate world-leading knowledge in Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences. Our research addresses four main themes: human performance science, physical activity for health, physical education and sport, and sports injury and illness risk and prevention.Our research ranking, collaboration and missionWe have 35 members of staff who are active researchers. The REF 2021 results for both education and sport-related research place us as Scotland’s top-ranked institution for research breadth and quality. We are ranked 3rd in the UK in terms of the breadth and quality of our research in education and nearly 90 per cent of our sport-related research activity is classified as ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ (Times Higher Education).We engage in division-crossing, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues across the School and University, and in other institutions within Scotland and internationally. For example, we held a series of workshops which involved monitoring young racing drivers, from around the world, provided them with invaluable practical experience.Our research mission is to advance, explore and enable research in Sport, Physical Education and Health Science. Find out more about our research through the links below to our research centres, groups and networks sites.Our research centres, groups and networks all sit within our Sports-Related Research Hub.Visit the Sports-Related Research HubResearch centres and groupsPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC)Applied Coaching Science Research GroupEdinburgh Critical Studies in Sport (ECSS) Research GroupEdinburgh Sports Medicine Research Network (ESMRN)/UK Collaborating Centre on Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport (UKCCIIS)Human Performance Science Research GroupPhysical Culture Research in Education (PCRE)Scottish Centre of Olympic Research and Education (SCORE)Research inter-disciplinary networksAcademy of SportCross-College centres and networksEdinburgh Sports Medicine Research Network (ESMRN)Edinburgh Centre for Data, Culture & Society (CDCS)StaffStaff within the Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences have backgrounds in physical education teaching, sport and leisure research, policy and management, physical activity and health and sport and exercise science.NameRoleEmailDr Alan MacPhersonHead of Institutealan.macpherson@ed.ac.ukDr Nicola CarseDeputy Head of Institutenicola.carse@ed.ac.ukDr Pippa ChapmanDeputy Head of Institutepippa.chapman@ed.ac.ukSean AtkinsOperations Administrator (Institute Support)SPEHS@ed.ac.ukAnne-Marie ConnellyOperations Coordinator (Institute Support)SPEHS@ed.ac.ukSarah PullarOperations Administrator (Institute Support)SPEHS@ed.ac.ukAll staff in ISPEHSFacilitiesAt Moray House, we have a wide range of sports facilities on offer to enhance research and studies of our staff and students.Biomechanics lab and associated equipment Image Our biomechanics laboratory is equipped with world-leading hardware and software. A motion capture system, a computerized robotic dynamometer, electromyography sensors and a range of force platforms are some of the instruments our students use to analyse human motion and gain better understanding of potential to performance. Dance studio Image The bespoke dance studio-lab has beautiful views of Arthur’s Seat and is one of the largest in the city, with a working capacity for 40 dancers. The studio is supported by up-to-date audio/visual technology and there is a viewing gallery that provides opportunities to observe teaching and performances. Environmental and human performance labOur Environmental Human Performance Lab is a state-of-the-art, fully climate controlled space capable of simulating environments ranging from -20 to +50oC, 20-90% relative humidity, and up to 8,750 metres altitude, making it the highest capacity environmental chamber in Scotland.The lab allows us to deliver high-quality, practically driven teaching on the influence of environmental stressors on the physiology and psychology of athletes, recreationally active exercisers, and in occupational and health settings. It will also allow students to carry out their own research projects in these areas. Games halls Image The games halls within St Leonard’s Land are predominantly used as teaching spaces for our Physical Education programmes. Within these spaces a range of activities can be accommodated, such as volleyball, badminton and basketball.Physiology lab Image Our large physiology teaching lab enables individual and group work, exploring exercise and sports physiology in action across cycling, rowing and running modes of exercise, progressing from first principles through to state-of-the-art technology and now an integrated online learning platform. Project lab Image An additional research and teaching project lab in the basement level provides further flexible space for data collection, ranging from consultancy work with athletes to group practical work and dissertation data collection. Psychology labThe psychology lab is set to the side of the main practical teaching space. It is a self-contained, flexible unit that can be configured in multiple ways to enable students and researchers to collect a wide range of data – enabling experiments, interviews and observational studies to be conducted. Strength and conditioning performance gym Image The performance gym is a bespoke training facility catering for a range of performance needs. It offers a variety of equipment: including free weights (bars, dumb bells and medicine balls), pulleys, exercise bikes, dome balance balls and benches.Swimming pool Image Our swimming pool is used as a laboratory for aquatics research. It has a movable floor that allows us to set it at different depths. The equipment we use include a number of above- and under-water cameras for video analysis, waterproof sensors to measure muscle activity, poolside monitors, and specialised analysis software. Our work includes helping swimmers improve performance and improving rehabilitation programmes undertaken in the water for people with musculoskeletal disorders and other conditions or injuries.The swimming pool is also used for training, teaching and commercial activities. This article was published on 2024-10-07
