Transforming Sport: Engaging Critical Proactivism in Sport Research

Critical scholarly research on sport has often troubled simplistic narratives around sport’s positive role in society, as academics regularly question the straightforward, widely-accepted notion that doing sport is, in and of itself, a ‘good’ thing.

However, acknowledging this does not mean rejecting any and all claims that engaging with sport or related leisure practices can lead to positive outcomes for individuals, communities, or the broader societies of which they are a part. As such, the ‘critical proactivist’ approach to scholarly research on sport invites academics to engage creatively with the possibility of sport’s role in engendering positive social change, at the same time as carefully reflecting on the limits of such phenomena.

This one-day event at the University of Brighton will showcase academic work marrying critical perspectives with proactive community engagement, sharing examples of good practice and inviting constructive debate among academics and practitioners. It is open to anyone with an interest in researching, developing, or delivering sports and related leisure programmes.

Speakers: 

• Dr. Ben Carrington, University of Southern California, USA: 'Sons of Bitches and Incredible Patriots: Race, Sports and Politics in Trump’s America'
• Dr. Cathy Van Ingen, Brock University, Canada: 'Shape Your Life: Lessons from a trauma–informed boxing project'
• Dr. Janelle Joseph, University of Toronto, Canada: 'Transforming Teaching in Sport: Critical Race and Indigenous Pedagogies in Higher Education'
• Prof. Tina Nobis, Humboldt University, Germany: 'How sport clubs engage in refugee work: A case study from Germany'

Visit the event website for more information.