Funding and commissions
Funding in support of research to the school has been received from a variety of sources:
- ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
- World Tourism Organisation
- Siemens
- Institute for Customer Service
- British Council
- South-East England Development Agency
- Sussex Learning Skills Council
- Eastbourne Borough Council
Research Grants
Some of the school's recent Research Income and Grants include:
Dr Emma Ross £33,000. A-T Childrens Project and A-T Society UK. Project Grant: Inspiratory Muscle Training in Children with Ataxia Telangiectasia.
This research aims to improve the strength of breathing muscles, and alleviate the effort of breathing in people with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T). These patients have weakness and uncoordinated control of muscles, including the muscles which allow us to breathe. A-T patients often find breathing more of an effort and because their cough becomes weak, have repeated lung infections because they cannot clear mucus effectively. The proposed study looks at the effect of breathing through a handheld inspiratory muscle training device for 15 minutes, twice a day, for 12 weeks. Exercising the breathing muscles in this way has been shown to improve their strength and function. We will test how well the breathing muscles have responded to the training by measuring their strength (by breathing into a mouth pressure meter), lung function (by breathing in and out through a spirometer), the strength of cough (by coughing through a peak flow meter), and we will evaluate whether the training has improved patients’ quality of life by asking them to complete a questionnaire. If the outcomes are positive, IMT offers a non-pharmacological, cheap and accessible intervention in order to elicit functionally and clinically important adaptations in respiratory muscle function in those with A-T.
Dr. Belinda Wheaton and Dr Paul Gilchrist £5,000. British Academy – The Politics of Parkour
This grant provided funds to develop an international collaborative research agenda exploring public policy responses to an emergent urban-based lifestyle sport: parkour. The media depict parkour participants as reckless risk-seeking hedonists; yet existing academic research has described it as a transgressive cultural practice that challenges forms of embodiment and the uses and meanings of public space.
Policymakers and educationalists are recognising parkour's potential to engage young people, providing managed risk-taking that furthers self -discipline, creativity and healthy lifestyles. Activities involved:
- A 2 day meeting (Brighton, October 2010) involving academics, policy makers and practitioners from the UK, France, Holland, Brazil, USA and Canada (some via electronic presentations);
- Subsequently developing a research agenda which has informed a larger grant application to the Leverhulme trust ;
- Empirical research exploring the emergence of parkour training areas in the UK. Interviews with facility managers/local authorities/practitioners in the UK were conducted to establish the rationale for involvement, and perceived benefits.
The research is relevant to policy makers, and educationalists interested in the potential of parkour for positive youth development, and other policy objectives (eg. Urban regeneration). The research has generated interest from local authorities seeking to construct parkour facilities (e.g. Great Yarmouth) or to develop existing sites further (e.g. Coatbridge). Data and materials generated from this project have informed those processes, particularly on issues such as social inclusion, cultures of use, and positive youth development.
Publications:
Gilchrist, P. and Wheaton, B. (2011) Lifestyle sport, public policy and youth engagement: examining the emergence of parkour International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 3 (1). pp. 109-131. ISSN 1940-6959
Gilchrist, P. & Wheaton, B. (forthcoming, 2012) ‘New media technologies in lifestyle sport’, in Digital Media Sport: Technology and Power in the Network Society (Rowe & Hutchins, Eds.) ISBN-10: 041551751.Routledge Research in Cultural and Media Studies series.
Dr. Neil Maxwell £5,600. The Health and Well-Being Benefits of Horse-Based Sport and Leisure.
Although there is anecdotal evidence available on the physical and psychological well-being and health benefits of horse-based sport and leisure, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support, or challenge, these claims. Given this gap in the current research, Plumpton College in partnership with the University of Brighton were commissioned by the British Horse Society to carry out an investigation into the potential benefits of recreational horse riding.
The purpose of one part of the project that was carried out within Chelsea School of Sport was to evaluate the energy cost of horse riding in the field using a portable gas analysis system and ascertain whether the intensity of exercise was sufficient to be classified as ‘moderate’ and therefore, confer health benefits to individuals involved in this leisure activity. The findings indicated that horse riding can expend sufficient energy to meet public health guidelines of regularly obtaining moderate-intensity activity for health benefits. It is also noteworthy that the nature of the horse riding session (i.e. whether walking, trotting, cantering or not using stirrups) and the experience of the rider may dictate the magnitude of the energy expended.
ESRC PhD Studentship £54,000 won by Georgina Roy for work on Women’s Surfing Culture. Supervisors Drs. Belinda Wheaton & Jayne Caudwell.
Dr. Jeanne Dekerle £16,500. On Our Doorsteps/Bigger Splash
The Bigger Splash - developing a model for University Students to gain experience in local community sports clubs in Eastbourne.
The bigger splash project has been funded by CUPP* to develop an effective system for administrating, coordinating and mentoring the work of Chelsea School students within neighbourhood voluntary sports organisations.
Academics, volunteers, and community partners who appreciate the needs and operational procedures of voluntary sports organisations, worked together to help students find skills-led placements, initially within Eastbourne Swimming Club. But the outcomes from the project applies to many more Eastbourne sports clubs, ensuring students graduate with skills and experience relevant to their degree.
Dr. Jayne Caudwell £650. Springboard.
The Springboard Grant (University of Brighton Alumni) monies £650 is to conduct focus group research with LGBT young people and their experiences of sport and school sport.
Academic output: Caudwell, J.C. (2012) [Transgender] young men: gendered subjectivities and the physically active body Sport, Education and Society, Published ahead of print . ISSN 1470-1243
Dr. Neil Maxwell £33,000. PhD Research Studentship: Optimising hypoxic and altitude training methods in elite endurance athletes.
This PhD studentship is a joint venture between the University of Brighton and the English Institute of Sport (EIS). The EIS works in partnership with sport to improve performances through the delivery of high quality sport science and medical support to elite athletes, through its nationwide network of expertise and facilities. This studentship offers the unique opportunity to develop scientific skills at the same time as supporting the knowledge base and practice of coaches and athletes.
Exploring the usage and efficacy of different varieties of hypoxic and altitude exposure amongst the endurance athletic population, and the functional and performance gains of these, is of particular importance. This studentship is considering the precision of some of the direct and indirect haematological markers that are often used to evaluate the effectiveness of the altitude/hypoxic training stimulus.
Supervisors Drs. Neil Maxwell, Alan Richardson and Jamie Pringle.
Dr. Jayne Caudwell £5,000. On Our Doorstep/Taking a Stand: Sexualities and Sport Participation.
This is a partnership project with The Justin Campaign and the University of Brighton (awarded January 2012). The project aims to officially unite The Justin Campaign and The University of Brighton as ‘neighbours’ in a partnership concerned with physical activity and sport participation.
It consists of two major events: “Justin Student Football Festival” on Wednesday 2nd May 2012 and “Justin Campaign Symposium: Campaigning for Change” on Thursday 3rd May 2012.
The football festival is organised by Football4Peace.
Dr. Emma Ross £22,000. Medtronic. Project Grant: Neural and Cognitive Fatigue in Clinicians following Electrophysiological Ablation Procedures.
This unique research study uses novel assessment techniques to investigate cognitive and physical fatigue in clinicians following electrophysiological (EP) ablation procedures. We hypothesise that fatigue occurs during EP ablation, which manifests as reduced cognitive functioning, and a reduced voluntary control of muscles involved in the procedure (known as central fatigue).