FEB-Dean and Professor make important contribution to conference Sports Meets Science on June 4th

Professor Elmer Sterken, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, will perform the opening of the congress that will take place on the 4th of June. The purpose of the day is to find out how scientific applications can influence sports. To that end, participants of the congress look at sports from several different scientific angles. FEB-Professor Gerard Sierksma will also make an important contribution by talking on the use of computers in sports.

The Sports Meet Science Conference is one of the last big events of the 395th Anniversary Celebrations at the RuG. The areas where science and sports meet are discussed in five main sessions. These areas are: psychology, talent development, doping, computers (with professor Sierksma of the FEB), and technology. In each session, questions on the subject will be considered not only by a scientific expert, but by a top athlete as well. The session on talent development, for example, will include Groningen’s pride at the 2008 Olympics, Epke Zonderland.

FEB-professor of Sport Logistics Gerard Sierksma, together with athlete George de Jong, will contribute on computer support in sports. Sierksma has created a computer programme that helps to compile sports teams. This compilation is made on the basis of a list of relevant qualities, that is valued for every player and position in the team. The system has been tested at FC Groningen and is now being tested at Ajax.

The conference will be concluded with a forum discussion about the steps that the Netherlands will need to take in order to join the top 10 of the world’s sports countries and be awarded the 2028 Olympic Games. After the programme has ended, you can go straight on to the Academy Building for the Gala Ball.

Tickets to the conference are 5 euro, including lunch and after-drinks . Registration is required.