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Throughout 2012, join world-class researchers and top Team GB stars, in six locations across the UK, to see amazing athletic demonstrations, discuss elite performance and share your views on the research behind the UK’s sporting achievements.
Cutting Edge 2012 is a Research Councils UK initiative, in partnership with the Royal Institution, the Department for Innovation and Skills, The Institution of Engineering and Technology and PODIUM (the Further and Higher Education Unit for the 2012 Games). The six events taking place across the UK are as follows:
| Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Basketball | Wednesday 25 January 2012 | 7.00pm – 8.30pm | The Royal Institution, London |
| Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Triathlon | Tuesday 27 March 2012 | 7.00pm – 8.30pm | Carriageworks, Leeds |
| Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Athletics | Thursday 26 April 2012 | 7.00pm – 8.30pm | English Institute of Sport, Sheffield |
| Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Sailing | Thursday 24 May 2012 | 7.00pm – 8.30pm | Weymouth Sailing Academy, Weymouth |
| Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Diving | Thursday 5 July 2012 | 7.00pm – 8.30pm | Plymouth Life Centre, Plymouth |
| Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Cycling | Thursday 19 July 2012 | 7.00 – 8.30pm | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow |
Wednesday 25 January 2012, 7.00 – 8.30pm, The Royal Institution, London
To launch the Cutting Edge 2012 series, this event looks at basketball, both Olympic and Paralympic. Featuring Colin Price, silver medal winning captain of Britain’s Wheelchair Basketball team in Atlanta 1996 and coach to junior wheelchair athletes, this event is an opportunity to question both the cutting-edge researchers and high-achieving athletes. Hosted by Professor Steve Haake, one of the UK’s top sports scientists, Professor Mike Caine will share his expertise in combining human performance with sport and fitness equipment innovation, specifically wheelchair design for Paralympics GB; Dr Maria Kavussanu will explore morality in team sport, and why athletes engage in cheating and Dr David James will lead discussions on how far research and new technologies should be used in the quest to win gold and where should we draw the line?
A short film featuring highlights from the event is available here.
Tuesday 27 March 2012, Carriageworks, Leeds
Triathlon is one of the most high-tech sports in the world and this event is an opportunity to learn more about the research that lies behind Team GB’s elite performance. Professor Steve Haake, one of the UK’s top sports scientists hosted an evening of debate and demonstrations featuring. Dr Steph Forrester, a sports scientist and triathlete for Team GB in Sydney 2000 who explained how the right equipment, from shoes to bras, can enhance athletic performance and; Dr David James who lead discussions on how far research and new technologies should be used in the quest to win gold.
A short film featuring highlights from the event is available here.
Thursday 26 April 2012, English Institute of Sport, Sheffield
Modern athletics draws on a huge variety of cutting-edge research to push the boundaries of achievement. In the dramatic setting of Sheffield’s EIS Team GB legend Roger Black will be joined by Professor Chris Cooper an expert in the physiology of top athletes and Dr Rob Harle, a lead researcher in the development of innovative video and body sensor technologies to aid the training of both novice and elite athletes. Professor Steve Haake, one of the UK’s top sports scientists, will host this interactive and thought-provoking evening, featuring live athletics demonstrations and Dr David James will lead discussions on how far research and new technologies should be used in the quest to win gold.
A short film featuring highlights from the event is available here.
Thursday 24 May 2012, Weymouth Sailing Academy
Sailing is a sport where Team GB excels. An expert panel will take questions about the research that lies behind this world-class performance, at the Weymouth Sailing Academy, which will host the event in 2012. This interactive evening will feature a top Team GB sailor who will discuss their experience using the latest research in their quest for success. Professor Steve Haake will host sailing enthusiasts Professor Glen McHale, who develops high-tech surfaces to reduce drag in boats and Dr Judith Wolf an expert in coastal modelling of tides, currents and waves and the brains behind Team GB’s gold medal at the Seoul Olympics. Dr David James will lead discussion on how far research and new technologies should be used in the quest to win gold.
A short film featuring highlights from the event is available here.
Thursday 5 July 2012, 7.00 – 8.30pm, Plymouth Life Centre, Plymouth
Come along to the world-class Plymouth Life Centre to hear about the research that lies behind the perfect dive. Andy Banks, coach of Team GB stars such as Tom Daley will discuss how research brings out the best in his athletes. Professor Alan Wing, an expert in human movement, will discuss his work on how divers synchronise their movements and Professor Andrew Lane will discuss ‘emotion regulation’ – working with athletes to maximise their performance under pressure. Sports scientist Professor Steve Haake will host this interactive evening, and Dr David James will lead discussion on how far research and new technologies should be used in the quest to win gold.
A short film featuring highlights from the event is available here.
Thursday 19 July 2012, 7.00pm – 8.30pm, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow
Sports scientist Professor Steve Haake hosts an evening of debate that looks at the research that lies behind Team GB’s success. Come along to put your questions to the experts about elite sport and take part in a demonstration-packed, interactive evening. A world-class cyclist will join panellists, Dr Harry Rossiter, a physiology expert discussing how to enhance elite performance in sport and Professor Louis Passfield exploring the fine line between nutrition and doping in sport. Dr David James will lead discussions on how far research and new technologies should be used in the quest to win gold.
A short film featuring highlights from the event is available here.