We are at the centre of a sex and gender storm. Conceptual definitions of sex are having significant practical implications on rights and access to services for gender diverse groups, with a targeted focus on trans people.

In the UK, the UK Supreme Court Ruling on the definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010 in May 2025 has caused shock waves for gender rights and major disruption to single sex spaces. The implications for sport remain uncertain with public consultation taking place to understand what this Ruling means in practice.

While in the USA, the new Trump administration has pushed down on gender identity and removed protections for trans people, including an executive order that prevents trans females from competing in female categories of sports signed by President Trump.

These legal hammers in the UK and the USA are influencing sports bodies to tighten gender eligibility policies and confine the female categories to birth sex, with a general trend towards the exclusion of trans female athletes.

Views continue to differ on the correlation between binary sex categories, the effects of testosterone on sport performance, physiological advantage, safety, injury risk and gender diversity.

Against this background, on 10 July 2025 the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will finally deliver its Judgment in the case of Semenya vs Switzerland.

Caster Semenya is a world class South African runner who was restricted from competing in athletics by the World Athletics (WA) Eligibility Regulations 2018, which place medical conditions upon females with differences of sexual development (DSD), to participate in the female category.

Semenya challenged the eligibility requirement to undergo hormone treatment to lower her naturally elevated testosterone levels connected to her DSD identity, on the grounds that the rules constituted birth, sex and gender discrimination. WA defends the DSD regulations as necessary, reasonable and proportionate to maintain fair competition in the female category.

Semenya was unsuccessful before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) (in 2019) and the Swiss Federal Supreme Court (SFT) (in 2020). She fought her way to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and in 2023 it held by a majority that there had been a violation of European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination), taken together with Article 8 (respect to private life), and Article 13 (right to an effective remedy), taken together with Article 8 and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination), by failing to secure safeguards in the review of Semenya’s case.

The Chamber highlighted that Semenya complained of the violation of her Convention rights to the CAS and the SFT but neither reviewed those matters sufficiently, owing to its limited powers.

In 2023, the Swiss Government requested a referral to the Grand Chamber, which was accepted by the Panel. The Grand Chamber hearing took place in May 2024 to assess the compatibility of the case with Convention rights, and the Judgment is imminent.

The ECHR is often celebrated as a living instrument that is interpreted in light of present-day conditions.  As outlined, those present-day conditions are turbulent and this outcome is likely to ignite further discussion about sex and gender in sport, with a risk of conflating DSD and trans athletes.

For example, since the Chamber Judgment in 2023, WA has imposed further restrictions on gender eligibility and in March 2025, it announced the re-introduction of a sex test to determine eligibility in the female category, in the form of a cheek swab gene test. It also recommended the merging of DSD and trans athlete policies which was warned against in the Chamber Judgment.

The eligibility of DSD athletes is somewhat overshadowed by the trans female debates but has nonetheless attracted athlete challenges for many years. The inclusion of both groups in the female sport category challenges binary categories and both are subject to similar scrutiny over testosterone, performance advantage, safety and injury risks.

When it comes to law and sport regulation there is an urgent need to identify areas of overlap as well as key distinctions between DSD and trans people.

The Grand Chamber Judgment will come at a time when gender eligibility is at its most contentious, and most politically charged. However, it might assist in encouraging dialogue and clarifying the legal and sport position for DSD athletes.

If the Grand Chamber confirms the Chamber Judgment it might have a significant influence on the future adoption of human rights in sport regulation and sport disciplinary processes. The compatibility of domestic law and sports rules with Convention rights might be subject to closer scrutiny following this Judgment.

Dr Seema Patel, Associate Professor in Law, Nottingham Law School

With the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 getting underway next week, NTU’s Dr Katy Griggs takes a close look at how women’s football apparel has changed over the years – and why brands have a responsibility to continue to improve the kits they produce to empower the next generation of female players.

Over the last seven years, the number of women and girls’ football teams in England has more than doubled. As women’s football continues to surge in popularity and with the upcoming UEFA Women’s Euros in sight, what players wear on the pitch has become an important topic. Sportswear is more than merely aesthetics or branding, it enhances performance, comfort and identity.

For decades, however, female players had to wear kit designed and made for men.  

Except women aren’t small men.

Today, sports brands have finally switched their attention to producing garments that put females at the forefront of the design and cater for female needs.

Evolution of female sportswear: A brief history

Following the lifting of the FA’s ban on women playing on affiliated pitches in England in 1971, the growth of women’s football in the UK started to blossom. The skirts and bloomers worn by female football players in the 1920s and 1930s were replaced by shorts and jerseys resembling the men’s kit. But they were simply smaller versions of the men’s kit and hence were ill-fitting and not designed for the needs of the female players.

Players reported a fear of sweat marks and visible blood stains on shorts during menstruation when playing in light colours. With similar concerns raised by female athletes in other sports, such as tennis and rugby. This resulted in the England team and various club teams switching to darker coloured shorts.

It was not only colour that concerned players, but also the length and fit of the shorts, perceived by some to be exposing or sexualising them compared to their male counterparts.

It wasn’t until the FIFA 2019 Women’s World Cup that bespoke fitted women’s kits were available, designing kits with fit, performance and comfort in mind.

Optimising materials and female specific cuts were developed to support the athletic performance of the players.

Functionality meets innovation

Performance driven designs are now commonplace in sportswear, with technological developments in fabrics, design innovations and manufacturing processes supporting the growth of the sports apparel industry.

How a sporting garment performs is determined by a complex interaction between thermal, moisture and mechanical properties.

This results in sportswear garments that enhance breathability, performance, comfort, durability and aesthetics.

After scoring the winning goal for England in the Euro 2022 final, Chloe Kelly removed her shirt and sprinted across the pitch in her sports bra. An essential piece of sportswear for any female athlete, but unfortunately an item which is so often poorly fitted and misunderstood by the wearer, resulting in discomfort and pain.

Professional football players have been reported to experience a high prevalence and severity of breast pain, have average/below average breast/bra knowledge and wear the wrong size sports bra. Although no data currently exists on the breast support requirements for female football players, based on a 10km run with a stride length of 1m, an athlete would experience 10,000 breast bounces, reinforcing the importance of a correctly fitted and comfortable sports bra.

Implementing breast health education initiatives aims to improve players’ knowledge, reduce the amount and severity of breast pain and enhance their sporting performance.

Traditionally women wore male football boots to play, but due to anatomical differences of the foot, women often reported discomfort, poor fit and were at an increased injury risk as a result.

High rates of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are a hot topic in women’s football, with the incidence rate of ACL injury in women two times higher than their male counterparts.  

In recent years, major brands, such as Puma, Adidas and Nike have manufactured football boots tailored specifically to the size and shape of women’s feet and differences in traction for female players. However, their usage by grassroots to professional players is yet to be determined.

Research projects, such as ‘Project ACL’ hope to identify best practice and solutions to reduce the risk of ACL injuries in female football players, which may include identifying the impact of these female specific designs on ACL injury incidence rate in the coming years.

The Next 90 Minutes and Beyond

With the upcoming Euros and the impact this event will have on the growth of the game, kit innovation must also grow and be accessible for players at grassroots to the professional game.

Female sportswear should no longer be an afterthought or a smaller version of the men’s kit, but be female-centred and female-focused. Sports clothing brands have a responsibility to continue to improve the kit they produce to empower the next generation of female players to dream bigger, run faster and play harder.

New research from Cardiff Metropolitan University and Lancaster University has revealed how older adults experience less muscle soreness after exercise compared to younger individuals – along with the health benefits of maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle later in life.

In a recent article for The Conversation, Dr John Fernandes, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Cardiff Met and Lawrence Hayes, Lecturer in Physiology from Lancaster University share the findings from a recent study…

“Only 2% of people over the age of 70 strength train at least twice a week. This is worrying, as age-related muscle loss can increase risk of social isolation, falls, loss of independence and even early death.

There are many reasons why older people may avoid strength training, such as a lack of knowledge about exercise, lack of access to a gym and stigma. Another major reason is the fear that exercise might make their muscles and joints even more sore than they already are.

But the good news is that older adults are no more likely to experience muscle soreness after a workout than young adults are. In fact, our recent study found older adults actually experienced less muscle soreness following exercise than young adults did. This research overturns the widespread belief that ageing muscles are less resilient.

We pooled data from 36 studies which looked at a total of 389 younger adults and 390 older adults with the aim of comparing their experiences of exercise-induced muscle damage. We analysed three different types of studies in our research, including those where participants self-reported on their muscle soreness, studies which looked at markers of muscle damage in the blood, and studies which analysed muscle function the day after a workout.

We found that older adults do not experience greater muscle function loss after exercise compared with younger people. Maybe most importantly, muscle soreness was consistently lower in older adults after a workout. Older adults experienced only two-thirds of the soreness younger people did at 48 hours, and only one-third of the muscle soreness at 72 hours compared with younger people.

Because we looked at 36 different studies, not all of them compared the same age groups. But they generally compared younger adults (people in their 20s) to older adults (people aged between 30 and 60).

We also found that biological sex appeared to play a role in muscle function recovery, with males showing slightly greater losses in muscle function after exercise than females. This effect was true for both upper body and lower body exercises, as well as body strength and aerobic workouts.

These findings challenge the widespread belief that ageing muscles recover more slowly or are more prone to exercise-induced damage. This misconception often discourages older adults from engaging in regular physical activity due to fears of prolonged soreness or weakness. The findings also show us that older adults may not need longer recovery periods between workouts – potentially allowing for more frequent or intense training sessions, leading to better long-term health outcomes.

How to get started

Although our study shows that older adults are no more likely to experience muscle damage compared to younger adults, this doesn’t mean older people won’t experience some soreness when they start working out.

There are two important factors that can increase muscle damage (including soreness) after exercise.

The first is novelty. If you haven’t done a particular exercise before (or even for a long time) then it’s more likely you’ll feel sore for a couple of days afterwards if you overdo it. This happens because a new movement or type of exercise challenges our muscles. This causes the body to trigger a cascade of processes that build new muscle. While this temporarily makes us sore, it ultimately makes it easier for us to cope when we do that exercise again.

The second are “eccentric” muscle contractions. What we mean by eccentric contractions is when you’re attempting to slow down a weight (imagine the downwards phase of a bicep curl – your bicep is working to slow the bar from dropping to the floor). Another example of an eccentric muscle movement is downhill running.

Eccentric muscle contractions cause more damage than other movements mainly because they subject the muscle fibers to exceptionally high force loads, which is often distributed unevenly. This can overstretch and disrupt the integrity of our muscles, causing stress and damage. But while this leads to soreness in the short-term, these changes ultimately make us stronger.

To overcome the problem of being new to exercise, you should ease yourself into a new exercise programme. The couch to 5K programme is a great example of this. This programme guides people to build their aerobic fitness gradually.

So for instance, you might start by going for a 5-minute walk on Monday. If you feel okay on Wednesday, you might try a 10-minute walk instead. This means that every walk is only five additional minutes of novel exercise, allowing your body to gradually build fitness without too much risk of soreness.

The same principle applies to the eccentric exercises we might do while strength training. Start easy. For an older beginner, just standing up from a chair and returning to seated can be a starting point. This is a very useful movement as it uses our main leg muscles. Being able to raise from a chair is also a huge predictor of independence in later life. Another benefit of this exercise is that you can always return to the seat if you lose balance – so it is quite safe.

If you can do five of these in a row on Tuesday, see you if you can do two lots (we call these sets) of five on Thursday. Much like aerobic fitness, you’ll soon improve your muscle strength. For the upper body, raising light weights above your head and back down to your lap can be a start. You could also use tins of unopened beans if you don’t have any equipment at home. Try to do these strength-based activities at least two days per week.

The findings of our study and many others suggest exercise has no age limit. Move more to live longer and healthier. Aim for 150 minutes of activity each week, add strength training twice per week – and most importantly, find a workout you love. When you enjoy it, you’re more likely to stick with it.”

A £400,000 project led by the Centre for Business and Industry Transformation (CBIT) at Nottingham Business School aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industry by training technology transfer professionals and STEM researchers in entrepreneurship – with a focus on AI to empower businesses.

At the heart of the initiative is a “Train the Trainer” model developed by CBIT, which will prepare 40 staff from partner institutions to mentor researchers in commercialisation and innovation practice. Unlike traditional technology transfer offices, this approach is designed to build enduring local capacity for venture creation – equipping mentors to guide researchers beyond patents and licensing into real-world venture building. By embedding entrepreneurial expertise within institutions, the program fosters self-sustaining ecosystems of innovation.

These trained mentors will play a pivotal role in delivering the STEAM Founder Program, which will support 120 researchers from the UK and Thailand in aligning their work with the needs of industry and society. The program equips STEAM researchers (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) with the practical tools to work across disciplines, engage with external stakeholders, and develop solutions with global relevance.

With funding from the British Council’s prestigious International Science Partnerships Fund and Thai Science Research and Innovation, it will be delivered as part of an established partnership with Chiang Mai University’s Science and Technology Park (STeP).

The program will focus on personal AI and health technology to address Thailand’s pressing socio-economic challenges and align with its national strategies. The country faces significant gaps in healthcare access, especially in rural areas, and is prioritising innovation-driven economic growth, particularly in the health and wellness sectors. The project also opens up access to new expertise, partnerships and global markets for UK researchers.

In addition to fostering interdisciplinary thinking, the program develops the commercial capabilities needed for international venture building. Participants will gain practical skills in opportunity assessment, sustainable business modelling, and market validation—preparing them to take research-driven products to market. With Thailand acting as a launchpad into Asian markets, and the UK serving as a gateway to Europe, the program positions researchers to grow globally connected ventures from day one.

Researchers will test early-stage products with a range of selective ventures from CBIT Venture Builder in the UK and Chiangmai Science Park in Thailand, , gaining experience in applying their ideas in real-world, international contexts.

The program will evolve into a formal course and will be supported by a new International Network of Entrepreneurial Interdisciplinary Champions (INEIC), which will build lasting partnerships and promote knowledge-sharing between the UK and Thailand. The network will connect researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovation professionals to collaborate on real-world

CBIT has a proven track record in developing scalable, market-ready solutions and a growing global reputation as a convener of interdisciplinary and cross-border partnerships.

Professor Xiao Ma, project lead and Director of CBIT, said: “UK researchers often work within single disciplines and focus on academic goals, which can create a disconnect between their work and real-world industry needs.

“This narrow approach limits the practical impact of their research and contributes to lower industry research income compared to countries like the US. The program addresses this by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to better align research with real-world applications.”

Dr Phavika Mongkolkittaveepol, General Manager of STeP, which boasts a network of more than 2,700 researchers and will provide incubation platforms to support the commercial adoption of innovation, said: “The Train the Trainer model is critical for building national capacity that drives transformational economic growth. By equipping institutions with the ability to nurture entrepreneurial talent, the programme lays the groundwork for a more dynamic, innovation-led economy.

“Coupled with an emphasis on international venture building, it enables researchers to scale their ideas beyond local contexts and position Thailand and the UK as regional launchpads for global innovation.”

NBS is triple crown accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA – globally recognised hallmarks of excellence and quality for business education. Its commitment to supporting businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving economic growth has recently been recognised with reaccreditation from the Small Business Charter for the maximum five-year period.

For further information email cbit.vb@ntu.ac.uk

The Home Secretary has appointed Reverend Clive Foster, NTU’s Multi-Faith Manager as the first Windrush Commissioner – as part of the government’s commitment to achieve justice for victims of the Home Office Windrush scandal.

The announcement comes ahead of Windrush Day this Sunday (22 June), marking the 77^th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush to Britain and the community’s extraordinary contribution to this country.

The Commissioner, a newly created role on a three-year term, will provide independent oversight of the government’s work to address the Home Office Windrush scandal and ensure the voices of victims remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“The story of the Windrush generations is woven into the fabric of our nation and this government is absolutely determined to right the wrongs they suffered at the hands of the Home Office.

“This is why I am delighted to welcome Reverend Clive Foster as our new Windrush Commissioner. His deep understanding through his own connections and dedicated community work makes him the perfect champion for those affected by this historic injustice.

“I look forward to working closely with Reverend Foster as we continue our vital work to rebuild trust and deliver the justice that the Windrush generations so rightfully deserve.”

Clive is Multi-Faith Manager and Executive Dean EDI at NTU as well as a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham. With personal connections to the Windrush generations through his parents who migrated to the UK from Jamaica in 1959. Clive brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the role. He is the founder of the Nottingham Windrush Support Forum and serves as Vice Chair of the Windrush National Organisation where he volunteers.

Windrush Commissioner Reverend Clive Foster MBE said:

“I’m honoured to take on the role of Windrush Commissioner. I’m committed to ensuring justice is delivered for the Windrush generations – people who have given so much to this country and deserve better than the treatment they have received.

“The injustices they faced must never be repeated, and that requires more than words; it requires cultural change, accountability, and action. My aim is to deliver change that the Windrush generations can see and feel in their everyday lives, particularly in how the Windrush Status and Compensation Schemes operate.

“I will carry out this role independently, without fear or favour, while creating a constructive relationship with government where challenge is welcomed and scrutiny leads to specific, transparent improvements.”

Professor Sarah Speight, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at NTU said:

“This is a prestigious appointment for Clive, reflecting his commitment and dedication to helping the Windrush Generations receive justice as well as showcasing the valuable contribution they have made to this country.

“A valued member of the NTU community, Clive is a familiar face on campus, and his passion for supporting colleagues and students of all faiths and none is unrivalled. We are truly lucky to have a colleague such as Clive, and we have no doubt that he will continue to play a pivotal role both at NTU and within Government.”

Clive Foster was awarded an MBE for services to the Windrush generation and broader community in the New Year Honours in 2022.

A new initiative aimed at enhancing Welsh primary school children’s reading skills has received a grant of £99,637 by Welsh Government.

The Cymraeg PALS-UK project sees Cardiff Metropolitan and Nottingham Trent universities teaming up to adapt ‘Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies’ (PALS) to align with the Curriculum for Wales and Welsh language requirements. PALS is delivered 3 times a week over 20 weeks for 32-minutes-per session to boost reading comprehension and oral reading fluency. Each Key Stage Two pupil is paired with a peer, taking turns as tutor and tutee while working through structured reading activities.

Originating in the United States, PALS has been implemented in England, Iceland and Taiwan. A 2024 trial conducted by Nottingham Trent University found that pupils who received PALS instruction made, on average, two months’ additional progress in reading compared to their peers. Teachers reported positive feedback, noting a marked increase in reading for pleasure, supported by informal book discussions between pupil pairs.

The new project will adapt PALS for Wales by translating all content and training resources into Welsh. This approach will ensure the intervention is not only pedagogically sound but also culturally and linguistically relevant to the needs of the Welsh education system.

Each PALS manual will include comprehensive resources for teachers, including scripted lesson plans and student materials, making the intervention easy to implement alongside existing literacy programmes.

Developing and piloting PALS-UK training for the Welsh context is Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Education at Cardiff Met’s School of Education and Social Policy, Dr Emma McDonald: “I am tremendously pleased to be leading the development of PALS-UK in partnership with schools across Wales and have it supported by Welsh Government. This collaborative approach enables us to adapt the programme specifically for the Welsh educational landscape and ensure it effectively supports both English and Welsh medium provision. Working directly with Welsh educators allows us to develop the evidence-based intervention that is genuinely responsive to the linguistic and cultural context of Wales.”

Dr Emma Vardy was instrumental in securing the funding and leads the PALS-UK team at Nottingham Trent University: “PALS-UK is an evidence-informed programme that can transform children’s reading outcomes, it is therefore exciting to work with Cardiff Met University and the Welsh Government to translate PALS-UK into Welsh and to ensure the programme aligns with the Curriculum for Wales”.

Cymraeg PALS-UK grant is part of Welsh Government’s £44m investment to boost standards and support education. Commenting on the support made available, Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle, said: “This is a huge investment in high-quality, nationally consistent support for all our schools. We are helping schools to ramp up investment in literacy and numeracy standards, challenge and engage with their learners across the curriculum.”

Further information about PALS can be found via The Fuchs Research Group.

Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Brian Morgan has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours List, recognising his outstanding contributions to business development, entrepreneurship, and the Welsh economy.

Professor Morgan, who was recently appointed Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University’s School of Management, described the honour as a deeply meaningful moment at the close of an impactful academic and professional journey: “It’s a great honour and I was absolutely delighted to receive it. The letter came through just after I’d officially retired and been made Emeritus Professor, so it felt like a final flourish after many years of work.”

Since joining Cardiff Met in 2007, Brian has played a transformative role in embedding enterprise and innovation into the University’s culture and curriculum. As Director of the Creative Leadership and Enterprise Centre (CLEC), he developed new models of applied leadership education tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Wales.

One of his most notable achievements at Cardiff Met was the creation of the 20Twenty Leading Business Growth Programme, a flagship initiative that equipped SME leaders with the tools, confidence, and networks needed to scale their businesses and contribute to the Welsh economy. The programme blended academic insight with real-world application and helped raise Cardiff Met’s profile as a national leader in business and entrepreneurship support. Though now semi-retired, he continues to provide mentorship and one-day-a-week support to the CLEC team, ensuring its legacy of impact continues.

“The Centre is in good hands,” said Professor Morgan. “The colleagues who worked with me over the years are now taking the reins and pushing the programme forward, which is incredibly rewarding to see.”

Beyond his work at Cardiff Met, Brian is a renowned Welsh economist and champion of innovation-led business growth and has had a wide-ranging and influential career across academia, government policy, and private enterprise. He is currently chair of Severn Estuary Tidal Bar Ltd. – a company that is developing a new turbine to promote a tidal range energy project in the Severn.

He began his professional life at the London School of Economics, where he studied alongside figures such as the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Chair, Sir Clive Jones CBE, who would later encourage and support his nomination for the honour.

Over the years, Professor Morgan has held key roles at institutions including Cardiff Business School and the Welsh Development Agency (WDA). His work as WDA’s Chief Economist was instrumental in shaping enterprise policy and supporting business investment across Wales.

In the private sector, he played a pivotal role in the early growth of Penderyn Whisky, Wales’s most celebrated distillery, helping to bring a uniquely Welsh brand to global markets. His commitment to local enterprise and sustainable economic growth has been a recurring theme throughout his career.

Brian hopes to attend an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle later this year, where he will be formally presented with the OBE. He plans to be joined by his wife and family to mark the occasion.

Also honoured is Cardiff Met Governor, Kevin Coutinho, who received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Kevin is Chair of the Board of Trustees and Director at the Windsor Fellowship, a charitable organisation enabling talented people from diverse communities to fulfil their potential.

In total, Kevin has amassed 25 years’ experience in EDI, 15 of which have been in higher education. He helped deliver the Race Equality Charter at the University of Oxford and provided EDI policy guidance and developed initiatives with the University of Cambridge. At University College London, Kevin worked as their Athena SWAN manager.

A new project will seek to introduce cutting-edge AI and smart technologies to green spaces across the UK, helping to redefine how people engage which nature while enhancing visitors’ wellbeing.

Nottingham Trent University has received almost £600,000 from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to lead the work, which will create inclusive, tech-augmented spaces that aim to improve physical and mental health.

The initiative is part of a wider ‘Engineering Healthier Environments’ project and will involve establishing a ‘GREEN+ Network’ to drive it forward and establish a roadmap for how new technologies can be integrated into public landscapes to promote healthier, more connected lives.

The project, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, will bring together academics, healthcare professionals, greenspace managers, technologists and community organisations.

It will involve investigating and incorporating nature-based interventions across environments such as parks, forests, zoos, adventure parks, botanic gardens and community green spaces.

Low cost and inclusive

The partners argue that a key aim will be to reimagine these green spaces not as static parks, but as interactive, intelligent ecosystems.

The team at NTU previously developed the ‘TagWithMe’ project, a smart wellbeing platform for green spaces which challenges visitors to identify tagged smart objects in different locations through a mobile app that delivered real-time challenges, quizzes and prompts.

It is hoped that, in promoting physical and mental wellbeing, the work will help to support social prescribing and strengthen community connectedness.

Partners will co-lead pilot projects, workshops and other events exploring how pervasive technologies can help to support health and wellbeing in natural settings, and feasibility projects will be co-designed with potential users.

Ideas developed through the network will be low-cost, inclusive and designed to work within communities across the UK.

The team wants to harness the existing value of green spaces and the role of nature in lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety and depression, improving cardiovascular health and enhancing creativity.

The aim is not to replace nature with technology, but to enhance the benefits people already gain from being outdoors by layering in subtle, supportive interventions.

“These are spaces people already trust, already love and are freely accessible – they are woven into daily life yet often overlooked as platforms for innovation,” said network director Eiman Kanjo, Professor in Tiny Machine Leaning and Pervasive Computing and Head of the Smart Sensing Lab in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology.

Bridging the digital divide

The technologies developed will be broad and inclusive, benefitting older adults looking to stay active, young people engaged by gaming and exploring, people with mental or physical health conditions, and those in areas where access to healthcare or community resources is limited.

Experiences will range from imaginative and playful to clinically impactful and low-cost wearables and offline-friendly tools will help bridge the digital divide, ensuring no one is excluded for lack of devices or data plans.

Visitors could follow digital wellbeing trails, for instance, where AI-generated prompts encourage breathing exercises or gentle stretches, or smart sensors embedded in benches or pathways might offer live feedback on movement patterns and encouragement to keep walking.

Apps could suggest new areas to explore based on mood or health goals, using AI to personalise each visit.

And in locations such as zoos or botanic gardens, families might engage with augmented storytelling experiences, where children unlock educational content about biodiversity by interacting with tagged objects or responding to challenges.

Meanwhile, people recovering from mental health challenges might find nature-based prompts supporting mindfulness, resilience and grounding techniques tailored to their condition.

“Our work will harness AI systems, pervasive sensing and low-energy digital technologies, embedding them into our green spaces as a way to encourage movement and support physical and mental wellbeing,” said Professor Kanjo.

“AI systems and smart infrastructure are reshaping how we engage with our surroundings. Through this bold interdisciplinary collaboration we hope to transform these spaces into responsive, data-informed hubs for healthier living.”

Enjoyable, empowering and evidence-based

It is considered important timing the project as the technological landscape has shifted dramatically – with the rise of energy-efficient microcomputing, edge AI and non-invasive biosensors – alongside an urgent health and societal need.

“Sedentary lifestyles continue to fuel a crisis in chronic disease and mental health concerns are at an all-time high,” added Professor Kanjo.

“Social fragmentation, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has left many people isolated, disconnected from their communities and the natural world.

“This work helps to answer all of these challenges at once, inviting people back outside, back into movement, back into connection, through experiences that are enjoyable, empowering and evidence-based.

“It’s about finding new ways to move, breathe, play and connect – not by escaping into a screen, but by engaging more deeply with the world around us. It’s about seeing technology not as something separate from nature, but as something that, when designed with care and purpose, can help us rediscover it.”

The team hopes that individuals will experience improved physical health through increased activity, reduced stress through mindfulness and engagement and a greater sense of purpose and connection.

And at the community level green spaces will become hubs for social interaction and public health outreach, reducing pressure of traditional service and fostering more resilient neighbourhoods.

For healthcare systems, meanwhile, the project offers new avenues for preventive care and data-driven support, and for policymakers, it is hoped to be a blueprint for how digital innovation can enhance public assets in equitable, sustainable ways.

Professor Kanjo added: “Importantly, the design process will be co-led by users themselves, with healthcare professionals, social prescribers and community groups shaping every stage of development.

“Through workshops, and funded pilot projects, we will continuously generate new ideas and partnerships, feeding back into a growing network of sites and stakeholders.”

Kia Nazarpour, Professor of Digital Health, School of Informatics, at The University of Edinburgh, said: “I am excited to join forces with Professor Kanjo to build the GREEN+ network community. The research at the intersection of health, care, and physical activity stands to benefit from this coordinated effort to address critical challenges in movement, rehabilitation, and mental health and wellbeing.

“Together, we can unlock equitable, scalable AI-enabled solutions to promote lifelong physical activity.”

Green space managers, industry innovators and healthcare professionals interested in being involved are invited to contact eiman.kanjo@ntu.ac.uk.

Cardiff Metropolitan University is once again proudly represented in the Welsh Universities Hockey programme, with both staff and students playing key roles in the women’s squad ahead of this summer’s Nations Cup fixtures against England Universities. The representative teams, a long-standing tradition in Welsh student sport, bring together top players from institutions across Wales, offering a unique and memorable experience of international-level competition.

Following a competitive trial process, including sessions held before and after Cardiff Met students’ participation in the EuroHockey Club Challenge I in Antalya, Turkey, 13 Cardiff Met representatives have been selected, including 11 players and 2 coaching staff. Student-athletes named in the squad are: Ella Bradley, Jamie Bulbring, Lucy Crompton, Casey Hillidge, Molly Hulcup, Amelia Lavington, Hannah McShane, Izzy Ricoux, Pip Venner, Tegan Waters, and Megan Watts, who will also serve as Vice Captain.

The coaching team includes Cardiff Met staff members Alf Dinnie (Head Coach and Lecturer in Performance Analysis for Cardiff Met School of Sport and Health Sciences, Dave Robinson and Sam Webster (Assistant Coaches).

“It’s a real honour to be invited back to lead the Welsh Universities Women’s Hockey squad,” said Head Coach Alf Dinnie. “This programme is a special opportunity for student-athletes to represent their universities and country with pride. We’ve got a talented and motivated group coming together, and I’m looking forward to building on the momentum from last year when we were the only Welsh team to defeat England, coming out on top in a dramatic shootout after a hard-fought 2–2 draw.”

Last year, Cardiff Met had 16 players and staff involved across the men’s and women’s hockey squads. The university looks forward to supporting the current cohort as they proudly represent Wales on the university sports stage again this summer.

The 2024 Nations Cup will once again be contested over two legs. The Away fixture will take place at Nottingham Hockey Centre on Saturday 21st June, with the Home leg hosted in Cardiff at Llanrumney Sports Fields on Thursday 26th June. Additional friendly fixtures are being to support final preparations.

Cardiff Met continues to lead the way in developing elite student-athletes and staff contributing to representative sport at the highest level.