Academic Board presented, call for papers still open!

The 2025 FISU World Conference will drive ‘positive change’ in organised sport and provide an ‘excellent opportunity’ for academics to showcase their work, according to the people charged with ensuring a high-quality and interdisciplinary event next summer. The scientific centrepiece of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will serve as a major forum for academics, students, and leaders in the international sports sector when it opens at the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum on 17 July.

FISU World Conference to offer ‘change’ and ‘opportunity’

“Don't just visit the conference, take the opportunity to talk to the scientists and discuss relevant topics,” Prof Annette R. Hofmann, the professor of sport science at the Ludwigsburg University of Education and a member of the Academic Board, says. “Don't be shy!" Every single participation will enrich the event and contribute to the common goal of driving positive change in organised sport.

The Academic Board comprises nine leading scholars and experts who are working together to promote and maintain high standards in the scientific organisation of the 2025 FISU World Conference. Their role includes selecting relevant abstracts and keynote speakers around the conference’s main theme: ’Competing for change: exploring sustainability and (mental) health through sports’. And with abstract submissions remaining open until 21 December 2024, academics are being encouraged to contribute their ideas.

“The FISU World Conference in the Rhine-Ruhr region will provide an excellent opportunity to present scientific work on topics such as sustainability, health and (mental) well-being to the global sport community and the general public,” Prof Christoph Bühren, one of four Academic Board representatives of the University Alliance Ruhr, says. We look forward to providing important impetus for the future of sport and to shaping research and teaching with the findings of the conference in the long term.

The full line-up of the Academic Board is as follows:

Prof Margo Mountjoy is Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University Medical School and Associate Dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University. She is also a clinical scientist. Her research interests include athlete health, safety in sport and mental health. With regards to the conference, she summarises: ‘As citizens of our planet, we need to take care of the health of our planet and do our part to reduce the footprint of sport in the world. Athlete mental health is an underrepresented area of athlete health and wellbeing that needs attention, research and clinical guidelines to help clinicians and other members of the community provide care and reduce the stigma associated with requiring help.’

Prof Holger Preuß is Professor of Sports Economics and Sociology at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and Sustainability Advisor for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. His field of research focuses on economic and socio-economic aspects of sport. He specialises in the socio-economic impact analysis of major sporting events. ‘I hope that the conference will inspire some publications and that participants will be sensitised to these issues.’

Representatives of the University Alliance Ruhr

Prof Christoph Bühren is Professor of Sports Management and Consulting at Ruhr University Bochum and a former Bundesliga tennis player. He considers the sub-topic ‘Mental health and performance under pressure in athletes’ to be of particular relevance. In his research, he deals with the topic of ‘choking under pressure’, among other things. But other topics are also of significant relevance to him: ‘At the same time, I'm also conducting studies on sustainability and well-being, which is why I'm also looking forward to the other sub-topics’.

Prof Thomas Jaitner is Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sports Science at TU Dortmund University. Since 2011, he has also been Professor of Movement and Training Science and Head of the Department "Movement and Training." Additionally, Thomas is a member of several prestigious scientific societies, including the International Society of Biomechanics in Sport (ISBS), the German Society of Sport Science, the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), and the International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA).

Prof Thomas Mühlbauer is Professor of Movement and Training Science/Biomechanics of Sport at the University of Duisburg-Essen. He considers the topic of ‘Health and well-being in sport and physical activity’ to be particularly relevant to him, as he investigates the effects of physical training programmes on strength and balance parameters in athletes (football, handball, swimming, etc.) and untrained individuals (children, adults, senior citizens). ‘A positive influence on these intrinsic (personal) risk factors for injuries and falls could support the long-term practice of a healthy, physically active lifestyle.’

Prof Petra Platen is Dean of the Faculty of Sports Science at Ruhr University Bochum, and a former competitive handball player. If she were to submit an abstract for the FISU World Conference, it would be titled: ‘The power of cycle - Using the menstrual cycle as powerful indicator of health and as crucial tool for optimising training and performance in female athletes’, reports the former competitive handball player, adding: ‘Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of this conference!’

Representatives appointed by FISU

Prof Mariia Bulatova is Director of the Olympic Institute at the National University of Ukraine for Physical Education and Sport, President of the Olympic Academy, member of the NOC Executive Board and Vice President of the NOC of Ukraine, Vice President of the Association of European Olympic Academies and member of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Heritage. Her academic interests lie in the history of the Olympic Movement, the social and cultural aspects of the Olympic Games and Olympic education. She emphasises that the conference ‘will influence the future of sports education and research’ and expects that it will increasingly popularise psychological, sociological and pedagogical research.

Prof Annette R. Hofmann is Professor of Sport Science at the Ludwigsburg University of Education and Vice President of various organisations such as the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE), the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) and the German Olympic Academy. She teaches (international) courses on sustainability and translating SDGs into sport-specific contexts. Her own scientific background is related to social sustainability.

Dr Aku Nikander is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Jyväskylä and is working on the development of young athletes, dual careers, career planning and organisational culture research in sport. The motivation to participate in the FISU World Conference is of great importance: ‘The FISU World Conference is a place where research and practice, people working in the field and athletes, come together. In this way, best practices and strategies can be integrated to fulfil the needs of athletes in terms of sustainability and well-being. In addition, the FISU World Conference is a place to meet new people and brainstorm new ideas.’