EVOLVE Research Group Summer 2026 Conference
Date : Wed 10 Jun - Thu 11 Jun
Cost : €5
Kilkenny Road Carlow R93 V960 Leinster
The EVOLVE Research Group Summer 2026 Conference
The 14th Meeting of the EVOLVE research group will be a 2-day event held in partnership with the Musculoskeletal Health research group from Leeds Beckett University in the UK. The MSK team from Leeds will travel to the Kilkenny Road Campus in Carlow and host their annual summer showcase as part of the event.
The theme for this year's conference is a 'Community of Purpose'. Humans 'evolved' to function as part of a community. The EVOLVE research group and the Musculoskeletal Health research group provide an example of two communities coming together with a common purpose. That purpose is not just to do with producing cutting-edge research in the fields of evolutionary medicine and musculoskeletal science, it is to do with the development of people and the reintegration of philosophy into higher education and society more generally. We aim to leave group members and audience participants energised, inspired and eager to pursue education for a life well lived.
With this purpose in mind, over 2-days, we will have scientific talks interspersed with talks on human potential, coaching, career journeys and much more.
This year, there will be a small charge of €5, with all proceeds donated to St. Laserian's Special School in Carlow. The reason for this is that our events always sell out, but not everyone uses their free ticket. This means some people who desperately want to go cannot. We hope that the effort involved in paying a nominal fee will only attract participants who really want to come.
We will update guest speakers and the programme as they are confirmed. Follow our social media on Instagram @evolve_setu.
We look forward to welcoming you to Carlow in June.
| DAY 1 | |
|---|---|
| 13:00 - 13:10 | Opening Address |
| 13:10 - 13:30 | Prof. Astrid Zech, Professor of Human Movement Sciences, University of Hamburg, Germany |
| 13:35 - 13:55 | John Doran, Kildare Sports Partnership, Kildare, Ireland |
| 14:00 - 14:20 | Prof. Steffen Willwacher, Professor of Biomechanics, University of Offenburg, Germany |
| 14:20 - 14:40 | Coffee Break |
| 14:45 - 15:05 | Dr Kris D’Aout, Senior Lecturer in Musculoskeletal & Aging Science, University of Liverpool, UK |
| 15:10 - 15:30 | Pat Ryan, Director of Coaching and Development, The Athletics Association of Ireland |
| 15:35 - 15:50 | Hanna Krześniak, PhD Student, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw |
| 15:55 - 16:15 | Coffee Break |
| 16:20 - 16:50 | Science of Feet & Footwear Panel Discussion: Dr. Peter Francis, Prof. Astrid Zech, Prof. Steffen Willwacher, Prof. Astrid Zech, Dr Kris D’Aout |
| 16:55 - 17:10 | Annual Awards Researcher of the Year Award Outstanding Contribution to the EVOLVE Research Group Award |
| 17:10 - 17:15 | Day 1 Closing Address |
| DAY 2 | |
|---|---|
| 10:00 - 10:10 | Opening Address |
| 10:10 - 10:25 | Dr Ashley Jones, Director of the Musculoskeletal Health and Rehabilitation Research Group, Leeds Beckett University, UK |
| 10:30 - 10:45 | Eleanor Travis, Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Therapy, Leeds Beckett University, UK |
| 10:50 - 11:05 | Dr Ian Entwistle, Lecturer in Diagnostic Imaging, University of Derby, UK |
| 11:05 - 11:25 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Prof. Mark Johnson, Professor of Pain and Analgesia, Director of the Pain Research Team, Leeds Beckett University, UK |
| 12:05 - 12:20 | Dr Cassie Oddy, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Salford, UK |
| 12:25 - 13:25 | Lunch Break |
| 13:30 - 13:45 | Dr David O Brien, Philosophy Speaker, Maynooth University, Ireland |
| 13:50 - 14:05 | Ali Emery, Senior Lecturer in Sports Rehabilitation, St Mary's University, UK |
| 14:10 - 14:25 | Jon Bell, Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Therapy, Leeds Beckett University, UK |
| 14:25 - 14:30 | Conference Closing Address |