Manchester Metropolitan University Podcast

Issue 10 of Met Magazine includes a number of features about our latest research and stories from some of our alumni about life after Manchester Metropolitan University. In this episode of MetCast, hear some of the interviews that made up the latest edition, including on our research into healthy ageing, climate adaptation, the Manchester Voices project, the impact of COVID-19 on the theatre indus...

With Wimbledon 2022 well underway, we discuss the impacts that competing in elite level tennis is having on the bones of players.  With players such as Rafael Nadal recently suffering from bone injuries that have effected their performance, we wanted to talk to Dr Alex Ireland from the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, about his research in this area, and the work he has done...

In this episode of MetCast, we discuss the history of the tennis racket, its mechanics, and importantly, how this has changed the game of tennis through the years.  Dr Tom Allen, Senior Lecturer in Sports Engineering at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, explains how the transformation of the racket, including the evolution of its shape and the materials used to make it, ha...

In our latest series of episodes of MetCast, we’re looking at the Winter Olympics and exploring how expertise and research from Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport is influencing sporting performance and supporting healthy living. In this episode, we talk to Adele Nicoll, MSc Psychology graduate, former sport scholar and current British bobsleigh reserve. Adele started as...

In our latest series of episodes of MetCast, we’re looking at the Winter Olympics and exploring how expertise and research from Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport is influencing sporting performance and supporting healthy living. In this episode, we talk to Sarah Collins, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design and Technology, about the different types of sports apparel that we...

In our latest series of episodes of MetCast, we’re looking at the Winter Olympics and exploring how expertise and research from Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport is influencing sporting performance and supporting healthy living. In this episode, we talk to sports psychologist Dr Martin Turner  about how winter athletes mentally prepare for the Olympic Games and how menta...

In our latest series of episodes of MetCast, we’re looking at the Winter Olympics and exploring how expertise and research from Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport is influencing sporting performance and supporting healthy living. In this episode, we talk to sports nutrition experts Dr James Cameron and Ozcan Esen about how winter athletes get themselves in peak condition...

In our latest series of episodes of MetCast, we’re looking at the Winter Olympics and exploring how expertise and research from Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport is influencing sporting performance and supporting healthy living. In this episode, we talk to Dr Thomas Allen, Senior Lecturer in Sports Engineering, about the emerging trends in the sports equipment and technology we...

In this episode of MetCast, we discuss the state of health in the UK and what needs to be done to become a healthier nation.  Professor Bill Ollier, author of Saving Sick Britain, talks about the challenges faced by the NHS as more and more people are diagnosed with chronic illnesses including diabetes and obesity each year, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the issue. He also discusse...

In this episode of MetCast, we talk about the issues of going through complex fertility journeys at work.  There are 3.5 million people in the UK facing fertility issues, whether that be infertility, going through fertility treatments, or experiencing miscarriage. Researchers in the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity are looking into the experiences of those going through these journeys in th...

In this episode of MetCast, we look at the vital role the Amazon rainforest plays in capturing carbon and what needs to be done to save it. We spoke with Dr Alex Lees, a researcher from Manchester Metropolitan, who has spent several years working in the Amazon to learn more about how best we can protect it. Dr Lees has also contributed to a major new report being launched at COP26, which brings to...

In this episode of MetCast, we talk about how Greater Manchester is planning to adapt to mitigate some of the risks that climate change will bring in the future – from increased risk of flooding, to the dangers rising temperatures bring.  Senior Lecturer, Dr Paul O'hare discusses his work with the Manchester Climate Change Agency as he supports the refreshment of the climate change policy in...

In this episode of MetCast, we chat about Carbon Literacy at Manchester Met – and how it’s being used to help councils, schools and businesses. Led by Dr Rachel Dunk, Carbon Literacy is training and teaching people about the steps they and their organisations can take to live cleaner and greener lives. So far, thousands have been trained in Carbon Literacy around the world thanks to the University...

On Wednesday, October 27, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak will deliver his next Budget and Spending Review to the House of Commons. In the latest episode of MetCast we hear from Christian Spence, Head of Future Economies Analytics in Manchester Metropolitan’s Future Economies Research Centre, about what we can expect to hear from the Chancellor and where the Government’s spending prior...

In this episode of MetCast, we speak to four experts from the Manchester Metropolitan University Fuel Cell Innovation Centre about the Government's newly launched UK Hydrogen Strategy.  In August 2021, the Government announced its plan for a world-leading hydrogen economy – the first of its kind in the UK.  Amer Gaffar, Dr Ian Madley, Dr Yagya Regmi and Dr Laurie King from the Manchester Fuel...

In this episode of MetCast, we chat to Jackie Newton, Manchester Met Exercise and Sports Science MA graduate.  Jackie was Director of Coaching and Athlete Development for Athletics Northern Ireland going into this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games, helping to prepare athletes for the biggest competition of their lives. She is now starting a new role as Head of Coaching Development for Bri...

In this episode of MetCast, we chat to Helen Scott, Manchester Met sport and exercise science student and Paralympic track cyclist. Helen is currently out in Tokyo ready to compete in the kilo and individual pursuit events with her stoker Aileen McGlynn. Helen and Aileen last competed together at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where the pair walked away with a silver and bronze medal.  In this...

On Monday, August 2, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is set to make history as the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. In the latest episode of MetCast we speak to experts from Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport about the current rules and regulations and the science behind the International Olympic Committee's transgender guidelines. F...

In this episode of MetCast we chat to Dr Thomas Allen from Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport about the latest technology in running shoes and running spikes which could break new records at the Olympics. Over recent years shoe technology has jumped ahead with innovations such as carbon plates in the shoes and feather-light materials. They’re not without their critics, however....

In this episode of MetCast, we chat to Valencia Nathaly Sihera, Manchester Met sport science graduate and head coach for the Grenada Olympic swimming team. Valencia has been out in Tokyo supporting two young swimmers from the Caribbean island nation at their first games, Kimberley Ince who has since competed in the 100m backstroke and Delron Felix, who has since competed in the 100m freestyle. In...

With the Olympic Games beginning in Tokyo, Japan, Professor Jonathan Grix and Dr Paul Brannagan, from the Institute of Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University, join us to discuss their research into sports mega-events. In the latest episode of MetCast we discuss the concept of soft-power and the future of the Olympic Games in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feedback is always welcome, as ar...

With England due to compete in final of the Euros in front of 60,000 fans at their home ground Wembley, we talk to Dr Martin Turner about the psychological advantages and disadvantages of competing at home and the impact of crowds on performance.  Dr Turner is a Reader in Psychology specialising in human performance under pressure and adversity, from the Manchester Metropolitan University Institut...

With the knockout stages of the UEFA European football championship kicking off on 26 June, in this episode, we will be exploring how anxiety can affect players who are called up to take penalties. When we consider that the England national team has around a 30% success rate in penalty shootouts, this tells us that penalty success is not simply down to chance. But what is it about the pressure of...

On Friday, June 18, England will meet Scotland at Wembley stadium in the UEFA European Football Championship. Fans of both teams will have their own predictions on the outcome of the game, but is there a proven way of being able to predict the score of a football match before it is played? A group of students at Manchester Met think there is. We speak to them and ask them to reveal their predictio...

On Friday, June 11, the postponed European Football Championship, otherwise known as the Euros will begin.  In the latest episode of MetCast, academics from the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport explain how fans will return to football stadiums safely under Covid-19, how players prepare mentally for tournaments and perform under pressure, and finally how the new set up to the t...