EVOLVE Research Group's 12th Meeting - A Festival of Ideas

The EVOLVE Research Group is hosting its 12th Research Meeting on Thursday 8 May 2025, in the Haughton Building at South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus Carlow. The theme of this years conference is 'A Festival of Ideas.' 

This year's line up is incredible with 5 experts in their fields speaking on a multitude of topics. A full line up and information about each speaker is available below. It is essential to grab your free ticket at the end to reserve your place. Tickets are limited for the conference. 

Attendees will receive 5 hours of CPD upon attending the conference. 

Guest Speakers

• Dr Brona Kehoe - Brona is an exercise physiologist and lecturer at SETU. Dr Kehoe is also the Academic Enterprise Liaison Researcher in Clinical Exercise Physiology at SETU and a Board member of Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association (ISESA). Dr Kehoe completed her PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology from DCU and is a former ExWell Research Manager.
• Prof. Irene Davis - Professor at University of South Florida in Physical Therapy and Rehab Sciences, Former Harvard Professor and founder of the National Running Center at Harvard, and former ACSM President. Irene will speak about the Evolution of her Career
• Prof. Mark Johnson - Professor at Leeds Beckett University. Mark is the Professor of Pain and Analgesia and Director of the Leeds Beckett Pain Team. Mark has published over 300 peer reviewed articles and over 30 invited book chapters. He presented at our sold-out conference 3 years ago about 'Is Pain Even Real?' and to this day, everyone still talks about him! We are so lucky to get an opportunity to hear this talk again.
• Dr Ciaran Cosgrave - Director of UPMC Sports Medicine and Institute for Health; former doctor for the Irish Rugby Team from 2016-2024 as well as the British and Irish Lions, Liverpool FC and Leinster Rugby. Ciaran will speak about caring for the professional athlete.
• Prof. Steffen Willwacher - Professor of Biomechanics and Fundamentals of Engineering at Offenburg University in Germany. Steffen is also a senior member of the International Society of Biomechanics and the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports.  The main aim of his research is to reduce the risk of injury and overuse. Steffen will speak about 'How human feet interact with modern surfaces.'
• Dr Colin Griffin - Two-time Olympian as well as an Olympic Coach and Sport Scientist. Colin is a strength and conditioning coach at UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic and focuses on lower-limb injuries and running performance. His main interests are rehabilitation of tendinopathies and muscle overload injuries, biomechanics, physiology and athletic development. Colin will speak about his experiences at all three Olympic Games he has attended in different capacities.