Schools and Colleges Lecture Tour
2012 Lecture – Physics and the Games: a Winning Formula
Find out how scientists and engineers are using physics to boost the chances of national success in the London 2012 Olympics.
This inspiring lecture will reveal how:
- Newtonian physics dominates the world of sport
- Developments in engineering and technology have defined many of the key periods of sporting history
- Key technologies have allowed athletes to push the boundaries of human performance
Presenters
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The lectures will be delivered by a team from Sheffield Hallam University’s world leading Centre for Sports Engineering Research. The centre is providing technological support for many Olympic teams and has a strong reputation for public engagement activity.
The team includes Dr David James - who was the Institute’s Schools and Colleges lecturer in 2004 and the Royal Academy of Engineering’s first Public Engagement Fellow in 2009 - as well as Heather Driscol and Leon Foster. Heather and Leon both have undergraduate degrees in sports engineering from the University of Bath and are currently in the process of completing their PhDs. Leon has been modelling the impact of technology on athletic performance and Heather has focused on understanding the traction of football boots; both will be newly qualified when the tour commences in 2012.
Audience: 14 – 16 year olds
Talk duration: 1 hour
Curriculum links include: Forces and motion, materials and their properties, smart materials, the application of science and technological developments.