Sports engineering
Sara Newman
- April 2009.
Raising sporting heroes to new heights, sports engineers have an integral role to play on the UK and international playing field. When sports engineers and athletes join forces, it seems there are no limits to what can be achieved in the sporting world. Speedos have got speedier, bikes have become super bikes, athletes’ vital signs and injuries can be monitored, and the next generation of sport shoes is intelligent and adaptive. But, sporting greatness is not the only motivation for sports engineers and the companies who employ them. Motor sports engineering generates about £3billion a year in the UK alone. To get a part of that financial success, competitiveness is required not just by the athletes. Dr Scott Drawer, Head of Research and Innovation at UK Sport, says that there really could not be a more exciting time to work in sport in the UK: ‘The margins between success and failure at the top level of sport have become increasingly narrow. As sport becomes more professional, there are more resources to seek the best technology available to give athletes the edge over their rivals. Currently in the UK, with the prospect of a home Games in London just around the corner, we are experiencing the greatest ever investment into Olympic and Paralympic sport.’ On your marks… UK Sport are giving final year and Masters students the chance to support top British athletes in 2012 if they think their topic or concept could have a direct impact on Olympic and Paralympic performance. The most important qualities in a sports engineer are perseverance, creativity and attention to detail. Dr Scott Drawer UK Sport Chris West won the Ideas4Innovation: New Researchers Award last year for his development of a novel device for performance enhancement in spinal cord injured athletes. A Sports Science and Exercise graduate from Brunel University, Chris has always been interested in ways to improve the performance of elite athletes. ‘Whether this be through training methodology or improving/designing new equipment, a career in research where I could potentially improve the performance of athletes was a logical choice for me.’ While completing his MSc, Chris was lucky enough to work with Paralympic athletes who have a spinal cord injury. ‘I soon realised that research into training methods, equipment and the performance of Paralympic athletes was very sparse compared to the able-bodied population and so I wanted to continue my research beyond my MSc. ‘The award provided an ideal opportunity for me to continue my research, not only from a funding point of view but also by giving me access to world class facilities and athletes that otherwise would have been impossible.’ A winning idea To enter Ideas4Innovation, the idea does not have to be an engineering concept; it could be related to athlete equipment and accessories, coaching technologies, training science and performance medicine. ‘Most importantly, you need to be able to demonstrate you have done your homework - robust methodology and application to sport on the front line,’ advises Scott. ‘I think the most important qualities in a sports engineer are perseverance, creativity and attention to detail,’ he says. While you don’t need to be an athlete yourself to succeed, it’s crucial to have an understanding of the demands elite athletes face. If like Chris, you have a good idea, competitions are a great platform to gain recognition and give your career a boost into the world of sports. Win or lose, you will certainly make some good contacts and get some practical experience before you finish your degree, putting you miles ahead of the competition. Further information
Suggestions to editorial@prospects.ac.uk
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