OMSI Science Pub Eugene: Sports Science

Why Walk When You Can Run? Exploration of Locomotion Transitions in Sport and Everyday Life

With Mike Hahn, PhD, Associate Professor of Human Physiology and the Director of the Bowerman Sports Science Clinic at the University of Oregon

August 8, 2019 | 6:30-8:30PM; Doors open @ 5PM | $5 Suggested Donation
 

As humans move about in their everyday life, they encounter environmental conditions which challenge their locomotion patterns. Imagine being late for work and running to catch the bus, or needing to stop suddenly when something crosses your path. Or consider your rec-league soccer match when you’ve got to budget your running bouts to be able to last the entire match. These events require changes to locomotion patterns which can have a large impact on your ability to sustain physical exercise and to enjoy the world around you.

In this talk, biomechanist and sports scientist Mike Hahn will describe the biomechanical and physiological principles which govern the ability of humans to navigate the world in creative ways. Dr. Hahn will discuss examples ranging from the challenges of everyday life, to the performance of elite sporting events, to development of assistive devices intended to facilitate broader engagement in sport and exercise.

Dr. Michael Hahn joined the Department of Human Physiology in 2012, after having spent four years as a research scientist at the VA Puget Sound in Seattle and five years as a faculty member at Montana State University in Bozeman. He received a B.S. from Colorado Mesa University in 1996, an M.S. from Iowa State University in 2000, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in 2003. Between graduate degrees, he worked at the Mayo Clinic in the Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, specializing in hand and wrist joint function after injury and joint replacement. His research interests have ranged from prevention of falls, to utilization of computational analysis tools (such as artificial neural networks, support vector machines, and genetic algorithms) for solving complex modeling and optimization tasks, to enhancing the performance of fly-casting.

Science Pub Eugene is a monthly event that is open to anyone and everyone. No RSVP or scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks, and knowledge! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu.