IPC extends Scientific Award nomination deadline

The IPC Scientific Award will be presented to a top academic researcher at May’s VISTA conference in Bonn, Germany. 23 Jan 2013

A man with a silver helmet and red jersey leans forward on his racing wheelchair

Marcel Hug won two silvers at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

ⒸGetty Images

By IPC

“With increased attention being drawn to Paralympic sport and the science and technology behind it, the IPC Scientific Award honours the individual who has made some of the greatest strides in helping us learn more about the science behind the athletes and their equipment.”

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has extended the nomination period until 11 February for the highly prestigious IPC Scientific Award, which will be presented at May’s VISTA Conference in Bonn, Germany.

The award is given in recognition of one academic researcher for his or her contribution to research in the field of sports for people with an impairment.

To be eligible for this award, candidates must have made contributions thorough significant scientific publications related to the scientific study of sport for people with impairment in any discipline, have received national or international recognition for their work and placed an emphasis on practical application of research with direct or indirect benefit to the Paralympic Movement.

IPC members and IPC Governing Board members, Sport Technical Committees and IPC Standing Committees and Councils can all submit nominations.

Peter Van de Vliet, IPC Medical and Scientific Director, said: “With increased attention being drawn to Paralympic sport and the science and technology behind it, the IPC Scientific Award honours the individual who has made some of the greatest strides in helping us learn more about the science behind the athletes and their equipment.”

Lucas van der Woude, Professor at the Centre of Movement Sciences at the University of Groningen’s Medical Centre in the Netherlands, won the last edition of the award presented in September 2011.

Van der Woude was recognised for his work on the restoration of mobility during the rehabilitation of patients with spinal-cord injuries. He organised four different congresses in Amsterdam to bring together researchers and had worked on optimising manual wheelchair propulsion, both in the general wheelchair population and among athletes.

VISTA 2013, taking place from 1-4 May, will have some of the world’s leading experts on technology and equipment in Paralympic sport travel to Bonn to discuss in-depth issues that made global headlines during the recent London 2012 Paralympic Games.

More information and details on how to register for VISTA and submit nominations for the IPC Scientific Award can be found at the Vista 2013 homepage.