Dr. Barbara Halberschmidt was a guest on the university's podcast "Umdenken." Even before the start of the "FISU World University Games 2025" on July 16, the challenges faced by young elite athletes are the focus of many discussions. While some experts call for more intensive talent scouting and more and better-trained coaches, sports psychologist Dr. Barbara Halberschmidt is convinced that financial difficulties, in particular, often prevent better results, and that psychological factors influence athletic performance.

You can find the link to the episode here [de].

In 1925, the year the Institute of Sports Science was founded, there were more and more opportunities to take part in sport at the university. After graduation, however, things still looked bleak: It was not appropriate for adults to run around the sports field in shorts. The first director of the Institute of Physical Education, Dr Hugo Wagner, therefore founded the ‘Alt Akademiker Abteilung’ e. V., in which graduates would continue to have the opportunity to play sport - fistball to be precise. The AAA still does this today, so that it, like the IfS, can celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. Dr Kai Reinhart was the guest of honour at the anniversary celebration in the Mühlenhof (12.7.25), where he addressed the guests.

PhD students Meike Gerlach and Tabea Christ presented their current research at the 30th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science in Rimini, Italy. The congress offered great opportunities for exchange and networking with the specialist audience and international colleagues from related fields of research. The valuable feedback on their poster presentations provided new impulses for their doctoral theses.
 

Together with Michel Audiffren (Poitiers), Ivan Bautmans (Brussels) and Yael Netz (Wingate) we planned the new Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters from 9-11.7.25. The hosts were Ellen Bentlage, Jil Bartholmy (Leiden) and Michael Brach. In the EMJM Master's programme you study at more than one university, generous scholarships are possible. Our preparations are supported by the International Office.
 

At the 30th Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Matthias Hendricks, PD Dr. Dieter Kutz and Prof. Dr. E. Eils presented their current research findings and received valuable feedback from the specialist community. Prof. Dr. E. Eils also chaired several events. The conference offered numerous opportunities for scientific exchange and networking with national and international experts in the field of international sports science.
 

The Olympic Study Day 2025 at the Institute of Sports Science at the University of Münster, organized by the Willibald Gebhardt Institute in cooperation with the Department of Education and Culture in Sport, was very well received. Over 100 participants attended in person or online to listen intently to the two speakers’ fascinating presentations on the topic of “Asian Perspectives on the Olympic Movement.” Representatives of the German Olympic Academy (DOA) also joined the event. The event also attracted interest from representatives of the Olympic Study Center at the IOC in Lausanne. More Information here.

The Willibald Gebhardt Institute is seeking to fill a position as a 1-2 part-time honorary staff member (with or without a bachelor's degree) for a school support program at an elementary school in Altenberge, starting September 8, 2025, until July 31, 2026, with a weekly working time of approximately two 3-4 hour shifts.

On June 17, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veysel Alcan from Tarsus University (Engineering and Health Research Group) visited the Department of Movement Science as a guest scholar. During his visit, he presented his current research projects and engaged in an inspiring exchange with our team.
In turn, the department introduced its own research foci and ongoing projects. The discussions revealed significant thematic overlaps and promising opportunities for future collaboration.
We look forward to continuing our dialogue and initiating joint research activities in the near future.