Current research projects

Principal investigator

Prof. Dr. Claudio Nigg (ISPW)

Staff

Kai Gensitz (ISPW)

Funding

EU & SERI

Cooperation partners

National University of Ireland Maynooth (IE): Prof. Tadhg MacIntyre, Prof. Andrew Coogan, Prof. Andrew Parnell, Dr. Joanne McVeig, Dr. Niamh Cahill, Dr. Oliver Bartlett, Dr. Mary Dobbs, Dr. Orla Kelleher, Ms. Kalyn Potter

University College Cork (IE): Dr. Annalisa Setti

Fundacion Privada Instituto de Salud Global Bar (ES): Prof. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Ms. Evelise Pereira Barboza

University of Helsinki (FI): Prof. Christopher Raymond, Dr. Sirkku Juhola, Dr. Milutin Stojanovic

Leibniz University Hannover (DE): Prof. Nadja Kabisch, Dr. Thea Wübbelmann

FH Kärnten - Gemeinnuetzige GmbH (AT): Prof. Daniela Stroeckl, Dr. Andrea Stitzel

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (NO): Dr. Sigbjorn Litleskare

Carleton University (CA): Prof. Yeowon Kim

The New School Corporation (US):  Dr. Timon McPhearson

The General Hospital Corporation (US): Dr. Mohammad Jalali

Naturequant, LLC (US): Dr. Nadina Galle

Ecostack Innovations Limited (MT): Dr. Mario Balzan

eLICHENS (FR): Dr. Franck Lascaux, Dr. Pierre Jallon

Lahti Päijät-Häme Region (FI): Ms. Riitta-Maija Hämäläinen

European Urban Knowledge Network Grouping (NL): Mr. Martin Grisel, Dr. Federica Risi

Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Klagenfurt (AT): Ms. Birgit Pobatschnig

CORK CITY Council (IE): Ms. Martha Helbert, Ms. Denise Cahill

Project Green Malta (MT): Ms. Beverly Costa, Ms. Kirsty Vella

Aim

A complex array of interrelated problems stemming from climate change and biodiversity loss create significant health risks world wide. Participatory approaches, digital innovation and future scenario development with citizens and local authorities will be used to promote health and build capacity in to solve the problems at the community and city level. Global, European, and national policies have emerged to address these challenges, emphasising mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. In this context, the EU-funded GO GREEN NEXT (GGN) project aims to deliver evidence-based policies and pilot projects in four European biogeographic regions, addressing the nexus between biodiversity, climate, and planetary health. Specifically, it will use nature-based solutions (NBS) and collaboration with global initiatives to reverse environmental degradation, particularly in urban areas vulnerable to climate change. 

Short description

A total of 19 partners and associated partners from North America, Switzerland, Norway, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Malta, and three partners from Ireland will develop novel approaches to investigate how cities best can realise their climate neutral ambitions. GGN will deliver a comprehensive evidence-based policy-oriented approach model to convey how ecosystem health, physical activity, and human health are connected. NBS, or actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature, are among the strategies that have emerged to reverse the degradation of nature, notably in urban areas where changes are amplified. In cities, vulnerability to climate change and environmental degradation is high due to dense populations, critical infrastructure, and at-risk communities (e.g. vast differences across social-economic gradient). Cities offer an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of current solutions aligned with emerging strategies and policy initiatives (e.g. New European Bauhaus, 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities) combining to form what is termed a just green transition. This refers to a process of far-reaching sociotechnical change leading to a green and climate-neutral economy that preserves biodiversity and ensures social justice. GGN will address the biodiversity-climate-planetary health nexus, delivering positive policy and city/region pilot outcomes in four biogeographic regions across Europe (Cork City [Ireland], Klagenfurt [Austria], Paijat Hame Region [Finland], Malta) and with input from best practice globally.

Publication Links:

European Commission: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101137209/de

Maynooth University: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/faculty-science-engineering/news/mu-leads-6-million-horizon-project-futureproof-urban-health

GoGreenNext: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gogreennext/

Principal investigator

PD Dr. Julia Schmid

Staff

Martin Bührer

Funding

FOSPO

Cooperation partners

Prof. Dr. Gorden Sudeck, Dr. Stephanie Rosenstiel (Institute of Sports Science, University of Tübingen, Germany)

Aim

Fostering positive exercise experiences and affect-related competencies for a physically active lifestyle

Short description

Physical inactivity is a major public health challenge in the 21st century. Interventions to promote physical activity show too little success, meaning that a large part of the population still does not meet the recommendations for health-promoting physical activity. It is often argued that existing interventions to promote physical activity do not take enough account of affective processes during physical activity. It is still far too rare for people in interventions have positive exercise experiences (e.g., pride, interest, competence; Ekkekakis et al., 2021). In addition, interventions often do not empower individuals to direct their physical activity in ways that positively impact affective well-being and mental health (Sudeck & Pfeifer, 2016). The FEEL project addresses these deficits in research and practice. An exercise program to promote positive exercise experiences, competence for affect regulation, and affective well-being will be developed and evaluated using a randomized controlled trial.

Principal investigator

Prof. Dr. Claudio Nigg

Staff

Sally Haddad, Jeannine Jaggi

Funding

WHO & Fondation Botnar: 85'000 CHF

Cooperation partners

Prof. Dr. Boyd Swinburn, (University Auckland), Dr. Sasha A. Fleary (CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy), Prof. Dr. Markus Gerber (University Basel)

Aim

To develop, document and support the implementation of an intervention approach to improve the health of students in four selected cities using locally collected data

Short description

The objective of this study is to generate health information through school surveys and use this information directly and locally, involving adolescents, to change policies and plan programmes to improve health. The study is carried out in secondary cities of four low- and middle income countries, including Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana; Jaipur, India; Spanish Town, Jamaica; and Fez, Morocco. In each of the four cities, 30 schools are randomly selected. Baseline surveys will be conducted to assess 13-17 year old student's health behaviours using the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS); and health policies and practices in the selected schools using the Global School Health Policies and Practices Study (G-SHPPS). Additionally, the physical activity module of the GSHS questionnaire will be validated against objective measurement devices in one randomly selected class of 15 randomly selected schools. Schools will be randomly allocated to the intervention (15 schools) or control arm (15 schools) of the study. The intervention group will participate in interactive workshops. Students, teachers and local authorities will propose and prioritize policy and programme solutions from menus of effective interventions for school-, community- or city-level implementation, supported by the Ministries of Health and Education and WHO. Repeat GSHS and G-SHPPS surveys will be conducted two years later in all schools to assess effectiveness of the interventions.

Publication links

WHO: https://www.who.int/ Fondation Botnar: https://www.fondationbotnar.org/

Principal investigator

Prof. Dr. Claudio R. Nigg (ISPW)

Staff

Mélodie Schneider

Aim

Evaluation of the pilot project

Short description

The SFV Quality Club is a project of the Swiss Football Association (SFV). This is specifically designed to promote clubs and supports Swiss amateur football clubs with individual advice, tailored project management and comprehensive training. As a special incentive, the clubs can be awarded the label ,,SFV Quality Club". The University of Bern is conducting an evaluation as part of this pilot project.

Principal investigator

Prof. Dr. Claudio Nigg (ISPW)

Staff

Lauren Amor (ISPW)

Funding

BASPO (Lab 7x1)

Cooperation partner

Zurich Competence Centre for Sport (ZKS)

Aim

The aim of "Sport interest group" is to connect sports clubs at a municipal level in order to enable more sports programmes, promote more physical activity and have an overall positive impact on the health of a municipality's residents.

Short description

The project "Sport interest group" (IG Sport) aims to demonstrate the benefits of closer cooperation to local sports clubs at a municipal level. In the best case scenario, this closer co-operation takes place through the establishment of interest groups, but it can also take place in a less formal setting. Workshops organised by the Zurich Competence Centre for Sport (ZKS) are used to show interested club representatives the advantages of an IG Sport and support them in setting up a potential IG. The newly founded local IG, which is committed to club sport, should recognise synergy potential, enable the collective use of resources and support joint action and communication. In addition, in the longer term, new sports activities are to be created via the community of interest, which will promote physical activity and thus have a positive impact on people's health as well as the quality of life and attractiveness of the municipality.

Principal investigator

Claudia Kubica (ISPW)

Cooperation partner

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Influence of the menstrual cycle on the development of performance, well-being and mood

Short description

Due to hormonal fluctuations, the menstrual cycle can have a major influence on our willingness to perform and our ability to adapt to sports training. Therefore, the feasibility and effectiveness of regular training tailored to the menstrual cycle will be analysed in a randomised, controlled intervention study. In addition, various physiological performance and health parameters as well as various psychological parameters are to be recorded and compared with training that is coordinated with the menstrual cycle. For this purpose, 40-100 healthy female volunteers aged 18-35 will be recruited and randomised into an intervention and control group. Over an intervention phase of 8 weeks, the participants will complete either a training programme that is coordinated with the menstrual cycle or a training programme that is coordinated in the opposite direction to the menstrual cycle three times a week. The respective training sessions have a duration of approx. 30 to max. 50 minutes. The examination parameters are recorded before and after the intervention phase and daily values on the menstrual cycle, recovery status and current well-being are also recorded.

Principal investigator

Prof. Dr. Claudio R. Nigg (ISPW)

Co-investigators

Prof. Dr. Heiner Bauer (BFH), Anna Martin-Niedecken (Sphery Ltd.)

Staff

Dr. Sascha Ketelhut (ISPW), Claudia Kubica (ISPW), Prof. Dr. Lorenz Radlinger (BFH), Dr. Stefan Schmid (BFH), Dr. Irene König (BFH)

Cooperation partner

Sphery Ltd.

Aim

Investigation into the feasibility and effectiveness of regular training in the ExerCube for inactive adults

Short description

The aim of the study is to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of regular training in the ExerCube and to compare it with video-supported HIIT/functional training. In addition to compliance and feasibility, various physiological performance and health parameters as well as various psychological parameters are to be recorded and compared.

Principal investigator

Prof. Dr. Claudio R. Nigg (ISPW)

Staff

Valentina Fischle

Cooperation partner

Stiftung IdéeSport

Aim

The aim of "Sport so wie du bist" is to motivate less active young people in particular to take part in the physical activity challenge and, in the best case, to achieve a change in their physical activity behaviour.

Short description

"Sport the way you are" aims to promote the dynamic emergence of movement projects in leisure time - low-threshold, spontaneous and without predefined structures. To this end, local young people launch and accompany a social media challenge in a participatory way. This is intended to motivate more active young people to post their physical activities and to encourage other, especially less active, young people to join in. It is not the sporting performance in the classic sense (faster, higher, further) that counts, but rather creative ideas and the social interaction ability, which is reflected in the number of participants, are rewarded. Interested people also have the opportunity to participate in low-threshold movement sessions on site. Experiences from these movement sessions are in turn shown and celebrated online, which is intended to provide a counter-trend to the common sport and health stereotypes that have taken hold in social media.

Principal investigator

Prof. Dr. Claudio Nigg

Co-invesitgators

Prof. Dr. Jennifer Inauen (PSY), Prof. Dr. Thomas Berger (PSY), Prof. Dr. Achim Elfering (PSY), Prof. Dr. Tina Hascher (EDU), Prof. Dr. Alexander Bertrams (EDU), Frau Barbara Engel (PERS), Frau Miriam Lüthi (PERS)

Staff

Dr. Ivana Igic (ISPW), Patrick Zimmermann (ISPW), Simon Kaufmann (Unisport Bern), Sandra Schnegg (ISPW), Benjamin Dütschler (ISPW)

Funding

University of Bern: 100'000 CHF (2021)

Aim

Introduction of holistic workplace health management at the University of Bern

Short description

This applied project is a collaboration between professors from the Faculty of Human Sciences and the Human Resources Department of the University of Bern, and aims to:

1. expand health promotion at the University of Bern
2. create a working environment and organisational culture that promotes the health and well-being of staff and students
3. maintain and improve the health of employees and students.

The first phase of the project (2021-2022) focusses on the employees of the University of Bern and includes

• A comprehensive needs analysis of health promotion and health management,
• the further development of the "Healthy University of Bern." concept,
• the creation of a "healthy work" action plan and the coordination of corresponding measures