Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference
We are courageous: Speaking out boldly and acting for change
Date: 21 and 22 June 2023
Location: Liverpool City Centre
We are incredibly proud to have been selected to host the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference, here at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).
We look forward to bringing together students, academics, and practitioners from fields including psychology, physiology, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, coaching and performance, sociology, cultural studies, and leadership and management, to the first in-person WiSEAN conference since 2019.
In 2023, LJMU will celebrate its 200th anniversary, and we have consciously bid to host a conference theme that aligns with our university core values.
The aim of the conference is to provide a platform for students, academics, and practitioners to connect and share knowledge to create, promote, and lead change for women and girls across all facets of sport.
About the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN)
The WiSEAN is a research-orientated interdisciplinary group that aims to grow, strengthen and promote research with women in sport and exercise.
Faq Items
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at LJMU has a long and rich history of pioneers. This includes visionaries such as Irene Mabel Marsh, who spearheaded the revolution in physical education (PE) that emphasised the development of PE for girls, and PE teacher training opportunities for women in 1900, which was emulated nationally and internationally. Building on this progressive and visionary leadership, Professor Tom Reilly (who pioneered applied practice in the world of football), alongside Dr Vaughn Lancaster Thomas (a trained PE teacher), and Frank Sanderson, established the world’s first bachelor of Science degree in Sports Science in 1975.
More recently, our School was the first at LJMU to be awarded an Athena SWAN Charter Mark and subsequently establish a School Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) panel which works towards embedding a culture of EDI, in its broadest sense, within the school. Our EDI strategy also inspires further work across the university, nationally by inspiring girls involvement in Sport and Exercise Science and Internationally through establishing a knowledge exchange consortium with South American institutions to promote gender equality in STEMM.
We hope that this conference will continue to build on our pioneering work and inspire future generations of students, academics, and practitioners to speak out boldly and become agents of change in the world of sport and exercise for women and girls.
Keynote speakers
Conference Opening keynote Chaired by Professor Greg Whyte OBE
Speaker: Sue Anstiss MBE
Title: Advocacy, activism or anarchy. What’s driving change in women’s sport?
Sue Anstiss is an activist in women’s sport. Author, podcast host, film maker and co-founder of the Women’s Sport Collective, Sue’s also a founding trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust charity and in 2018 received an MBE for her services to women’s sport.
Speaker: Professor Greg Whyte OBE
Title: Where do we start: science research, applied practice or popular opinion?
Sponsored by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Keynote 3 Co-Chaired by Dr Tori Sprung Strategic Lead for EDIR and Chair of the RIDE Panel, Reader in Clinical Exercise Physiology and Emily Wharton President of RIDE Society, PhD Student at LJMU and NIHR ARC NWC
Discussants:
Anyika Onoura is a Team GB Global sprint medalist, having won a World Championship bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay, an individual bronze medal in the 400 metres, relay gold in the 4 x 400 metres at the European Championships, and an Olympic Bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay. She is an Author (My Hidden Race), Team England Athlete Advisory Board member, Team England Commonwealth Games Athletics Team Captain (2018), consultant, broadcaster and podcaster, as seen on Sky Sports, BBC Sport, Channel 4, and BBC Radio.
Hannah Cockroft OBE is a British wheelchair racer and TV presenter. She has won seven Paralympic gold medals alongside 12 World Championship gold medals, making her the most successful British athlete in athletics World Championship history. She received an OBE for her contribution to Paralympic Sport in 2021. After a successful 2017 season, she was the first Paralympic athlete ever to be named ‘British Sportswoman of the year’ in the prestigious sports journalists awards 58-year history. She has recently returned from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which was her first opportunity to represent Team England, where she won the first Commonwealth medal of her career, the last title she had yet to grasp.
Title: Here Come the Girls: A (bold and courageous) panel discussion on the rise of Women’s Sport
Overview: A frank and in-depth panel discussion that will celebrate women’s achievements and increased visibility, while calling out inequities and challenges that persist in the arena of sport and exercise for women and girls. This isn’t a ‘women for women’ discussion, it’s a ‘society for society’ discussion.
Conference Closing keynote Chaired by Professor Lynne Boddy Professor of Physical Activity and Health, and Physical Activity Exchange Lead, based within the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University.
Speakers: Professor Bill Baltzopoulos, Head of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES) at Liverpool John Moores University and REF 2014 and 2021 Panel member; Professor Zoe Knowles, Professor of Engagement and Learning, Liverpool John Moores University and British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) Chair, and Professor Lauren Sherar, Professor of Physical Activity and Public Health and Associate Dean (Education and Student Experience), Loughborough University.
Title: Reflecting back and forward for the Sport and Exercise Sector.
Submit an abstract
The call for abstracts is now open and will close on Monday 27 March 2023. Please submit your abstract via our online submission portal.
Prior to submitting, please read the guidelines below for submitting an abstract for the 2023 WiSEAN Conference.
Guidelines for submitting an abstract for the 2023 WiSEAN Conference
These guidelines are intended to help you submit a clear and concise abstract for oral, poster or ‘5 in 5’ lightening talk presentation at the WiSEAN conference for consideration by the Scientific committee.
General Abstract information
- On submission of an abstract you are agreeing to attend the WiSEAN Conference and present your oral presentation/ poster/5 in 5 lightening talk presentation at whatever time is scheduled within the conference programme.
- The presenting author for each abstract submitted must be the first author of the submission so it is clearly identifiable at the time of abstract submission.
- Multiple abstracts can be submitted.
- Authors may state their preferred presentation format; however, the final decision will lie with the WISE Review Panel, based on the nature of the abstract and its content.
How should I format my abstract?
- Abstracts must be typed into the Abstract Submission Form.
- Abstracts are restricted to 300 words (not including title, authors, or affiliations).
- Adhere to the following format where applicable:
- i. title,
- ii. author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s),
- iii. Background including rationale, impact or implications for practice, aims, methods, results, conclusion (emboldened text can act as subtitles).
- Use UK English spelling and punctuation
- Use Arial font, size 11, 1.5-line spacing
- Use the APA style of referencing, if required (max 2 references).
How are the abstracts judged and when will I be informed of the outcome?
All abstracts will be reviewed by the Scientific committee. After undergoing the review process, corresponding authors will be informed regarding the acceptance of their submission on Thursday 6 April 2023.
Conference costs and registration
Conference costs
Two full days attendance (Full price): £220.00
One full day attendance (Full price): £120.00
Two full days attendance (Early bird price): £200.00
One full day attendance (Early bird): £100.00
Two full days attendance (Students – full price): £150.00
One full day attendance (Students – full price): £100.00
Two full days attendance (Students – early bird): £120.00
One full day attendance (Student – early bird): £80.00
Early bird deadline: Sunday 30 April 2023
Registration opening very soon.
Conference location and visiting Liverpool
The conference is being held in our Student Life Building in Liverpool City centre, which is our flagship building that opened in 2021. This is conveniently located adjacent to Liverpool Lime Street train Station.
Student Life Building (opens Google maps)
Address:
Student Life Building
Copperas Hill
Liverpool
L3 5AH
For comprehensive information in relation to accommodation and travel when visiting Liverpool, please see Visit Liverpool.
If you would like any further information, please contact WiSEANConference23@ljmu.ac.uk and follow us on Twitter @LJMUSportSci and @WISE_AN.