Sport science conference to energise city economy

Cash registers throughout Dundee can expect a workout when the city’s two universities host a major sport and exercise science conference.

More than £250,000 is expected to be generated for the local economy when the University of Dundee and Abertay University co-host the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) annual student conference in April.

An estimated 250 delegates from across the UK are expected to attend the two-day event, with Dr Audrey Duncan, Sport and Exercise Science Manager at the University of Dundee’s Institute of Sport and Exercise, saying, “It is a huge honour to host the BASES Student Conference 2019 as it is one of the biggest events on the UK sport and exercise calendar. This is the first time since 2006 that BASES has held this event in Scotland, and with great links to Dundee by car, rail and air, we’re anticipating a large number of people attending.

“We have already secured an exciting and varied group of keynote speakers and are now just putting the finishing touches in place ahead of what promises to be an inspiring two days. This conference will develop our future sport and exercise scientists by showcasing the fabulous teaching, research and consultancy work being undertaken by institutions across the sector to improve physical and mental health, tackle disease and enhance athletic performance.”

The conference is scheduled to take place at the University of Dundee’s Dalhousie Building on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 April.

Among those lined up to speak at the event include Dr Niall Elliot, from the sportscotland Institute for Sport, and British skeleton athlete Kim Murray, with the event also providing students and experts from across the UK sport science sector an opportunity to share knowledge and network.

The Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau, which assisted the universities with their bid, predicts that more than £257,000 will be generated for the local economy by the event, with Karen Tocher, the organisation’s Business Tourism Manager, hailing the gathering as, “a fantastic opportunity for our leading institutes to showcase their expertise on a national stage, using the conference as a platform to support knowledge exchange and forge new partnerships and networks.”

Dr Ashley Richardson, from Abertay’s Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences, added, “I’m really excited for the BASES Student Conference 2019 coming to Dundee. It will help profile the developing city and allow a number of leading academics and practitioners to showcase their cutting edge work, inspiring the next generation of sport scientists.”

Further details about the event, including registration, are available online.


For media enquiries contact:
Jonathan Watson
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 381489
Email: j.s.watson@dundee.ac.uk