On 9 July 2026, several members of our research group attended the DUMMY CRASHTEST MEASURE User Meeting at the crash test facility in Münster. The diverse programme of presentations provided valuable insights into current developments in biofidelic dummies, measurement technology, and the analysis of loading and injury mechanisms. A particular highlight was the live high-speed crash test involving three vehicles.

Having successfully defended her doctoral thesis on 7 July 2026, Meike Gerlach has successfully completed her PhD in Movement Science. Her thesis is entitled 'Biomechanical Sprint Analysis – External Factors Influencing Joint Kinetics and Performance'. The disputation was conducted by Prof. Dr. Heiko Wagner, Dr. Stefan Hochstein and Prof. Dr. Michael Brach.

As part of our joint DFG project, “The Influence of Joint Replacement on Ipsilateral and Contralateral Joint Forces—Long-Term Analysis of Adaptations Through In Vivo Measurement and Simulation,” our doctoral student Lena Kloock visited the Julius Wolff Institute at Charité Berlin to assist with measurements. She was able to observe the measurement of a patient with two instrumented hip joints and also gained valuable insight into other projects at the Julius Wolff Institute and Orthoload.

Many thanks to everyone involved for this insight! We look forward to the next steps in the project!

The Willibald Gebhardt Institute hosted the international CEREPS Summit at the Franz Hitze House in Münster. More than 60 researchers, practitioners and representatives from politics and sport discussed current developments in youth sport in schools and sports clubs, including topics such as physical activity promotion, inclusion and all-day education. The Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Münster contributed to the planning and organisation of the international conference through its Physical Education and Teaching Research unit.

As part of the ‘Individual Support and Psychomotor Skills’ module, led by Dr C. Bohn, a group from St Theresia Kindergarten in Münster visited the university. The students had prepared a wide range of physical activities for the pre-school children in the psychomotor skills room. Whilst the children experimented with unfamiliar materials at various stations and practised their motor skills through swinging, jumping, balancing, climbing and so on, the trainee PE teachers had the opportunity to hone their diagnostic skills and apply their pedagogical knowledge and abilities in ‘real-life’ conditions. It was therefore a special and rewarding event for everyone involved!

On July 03, 2026, Birte Brinkmöller successfully defended her dissertation in the field of sports psychology with the title "Talent selection in sports: A comparative analysis with personnel selection in business". Her thesis examined the influence of spectators on athletic performance. She was examined by Prof. Dr. Bernd Strauß, Prof. Dennis Dreiskämper from the TU Dortmund, Prof. Oliver Höner from the University of Tübingen und Prof. Norbert Hagemann von der University of Kassel. 

 

Skateboarding has been an Olympic sport since the Tokyo Olympics (2020/21). Rather than unanimous enthusiasm, the reaction within the scene has been divided. Some fear that skateboarding will be commercialised and that its ‘punk’ spirit will be lost.

We’ll be discussing the tension between lifestyle and competitive sport with some of skateboarding’s most influential figures: Titus Dittmann, ‘Cola’ Kuhn and Julius Dittmann.

Thursday 9 July, 10 am–12 noon c.t., Leo 17.21

Mini-ramp available to try out! Hosted by Dr Kai Reinhart. Free entry!