Advantage play: the history of physics and sport - Tuesday 19th November 5pm, Lecture Theatre 7, Hicks Building


Here are the details of the next IOP public lecture in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sheffield.

Technology has always been used to improve performance in sport. But does it really work? And if it does, when does it become cheating? In this presentation, Steve Haake will take a look at the long history of sports technology, going back to the ancient Greeks and fast forwarding through history to the present day. He will ultimately ask, if sport was to last as long as the Ancient Greek Olympic Games, it would still be taking place in 3036. What will sport look like then? And what will be consider to be cheating?

Steve Haake studied Physics at Leeds University before gaining a PhD from Aston University and becoming a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Sheffield University. While there, he established sports engineering as a worldwide discipline, going on to lead the largest academic research centre of its kind in the world, now based at Sheffield Hallam University. He was the on-screen presenter for two Canadian one-hour documentaries called The Equaliser and Champions v legends that looked at the effect of technology on sport. He has appeared on BBC News, Newsnight, Channel 4, radio across the world and has written for the New Scientist, The Times Higher Ed, Physics World and more.

Steve is author of the book Advantage Play: Technologies that changed Sporting History.

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