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Research Councils UK (RCUK) has released its final film in its Cutting Edge 2012: The Research Behind Sport series, which explores the ethical and moral dilemmas of today’s top athletes using technology to enhance their sporting performance.
Cutting Edge 2012: The Research Behind Sport – an unfair advantage? features leading scientists and sporting legends Roger Black CBE, Tom Daley, Sarah Springman OBE, and Simon Hiscocks to discuss the issues surrounding the modern sporting world, which is dominated by science, technology and engineering. With this comes the dilemma around who is responsible for the performance: whether it is the athlete or the equipment and technology.
Dr David James, who conducted the research on the ethics of using technology in sport featured in the film, said: “People always talk about the virtuous perfection of natural talent and the idea that athletes can just turn up and be brilliant. We are moving on from this now. A key part of being an elite sportsperson is having the capacity and intelligence to exploit technology.
“We use technology in sport to try to gain an advantage. What is much more of a problem is when the technology gains an advantage over the sport and it actually fundamentally changes the nature of the sporting test. That is the red line that shouldn’t be crossed.”
To understand this relationship, RCUK held a series of events around the country in the run-up to the London 2012 Games, each looking at a different sport and bringing together world-class sportspeople and scientists to explore the ground-breaking research behind the sport. Dr David James asked a series of questions at each event to research the public’s attitude to ‘enhancement’ in sport, with the audience answering each question using voting pads. The findings were then presented to the ICSEMIS Conference in Glasgow in July.
Professor John Womersley, RCUK Champion for Public Engagement with Research, said: “Cutting Edge 2012 has been an exciting project for RCUK to embark upon. By helping to develop pioneering technology and equipment, research makes a vital contribution to the economic growth and social wellbeing of the UK and ensures we have a prosperous future ahead, in sport and in many other disciplines. It also helps to bring out the very best in our world-class athletes - this had a significant impact on Team GB’s performance at the London 2012 Games. However it also raises ethical issues and there have to be measures in place to ensure that it gives our athletes an advantage that is fair.”
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Contact:
Katie Clark
Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592 or email: Katie Clark
Cutting Edge 2012 is an RCUK initiative, in partnership with the Royal Institution, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and PODIUM (the Further and Higher Education Unit for the 2012 Games).
Cutting Edge 2012: The Research Behind Sport was a series of six events which took place across the UK in the lead up to the London 2012 Games that focused on: wheelchair basketball; athletics, triathlon, sailing; diving; and cycling. Short films from each of these events are available to view here and showcase the exciting research, science and technology behind these sports.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.
The seven UK Research Councils are: