Duarte Araújo, PhD
CIPER's activity plan, "Promoting Human Functioning through Physical Activity and Sport During the Life-Course," aligns with WHO's concept of human functioning, integrating biological and lived health to understand health comprehensively. Human kinetics, the focus of CIPER's research, explores human movement as a key component of human health. The interdisciplinary and technological nature of human kinetics allows for innovative approaches to address fundamental questions about the contribution of human movement to health functioning.
The plan aims to generate new knowledge with international impact on functioning through physical activity and sport behaviours, translating research outcomes into health policy and practice. Its interdisciplinary approach integrates various sub-disciplines of human movement science to develop improved measurement tools, experimental designs, and interventions. Over the next four years, the plan aims to promote a paradigm shift in understanding human movement as key to functioning across the lifespan.
Four research groups from CIPER will collaborate to develop knowledge on functioning through physical activity and sport, addressing various aspects of functioning across key life stages and transitions. Each of these groups is centred on one of the four scientific subdisciplines: biomechanics, exercise physiology, psychology of physical activity and motor learning. The four specialized research groups: are behavioural regulation, exercise precision, neuromuscular biomechanics, and skill learning. The plan prioritizes data validity, observational studies, modelling, algorithm selection, and tailored interventions. Crosstalk between research groups will facilitate interdisciplinary training, innovation, international collaboration, and advanced research capacity development.
The plan underscores CIPER's commitment to sustainability through responsible practices in data management and equipment usage. Ethical considerations are paramount, with strict adherence to legislation and international guidelines governing research involving human subjects and data protection. CIPER aims to foster collaboration among researchers, prioritize international partnerships, and promote sustainability in research practices. The centre seeks to empower both junior and senior researchers, engage decision-makers, and advance knowledge in sport and physical activity to enhance human functioning and well-being across all life stages.
CIPER aims to enhance interdisciplinary research resources and international collaboration, focusing on:
- Expertise in advanced human movement measurement.
- Expertise in intervention development and implementation.
- Fostering research leadership among younger researchers.
- Enhancing funding acquisition capabilities.
- Communicating and disseminating scientific information effectively.
- Developing PhD programs guided by the Human Kinetics framework.
