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This summer, Dynamics of Youth is organising three Summer Schools. What do students learn and who is responsible? We talk to the coordinator of the , medical physiologist Dr Tim Takken.

What is the background to the Summer School?

”I had previously given a talk at a Summer School on vascular medicine, and I really enjoyed it! I loved sharing my knowledge with such an international group. Last year, I organised the first Paediatric Sport and Exercise Medicine Summer School. For me, it’s just another way of sharing knowledge. People can read my publications, but Summer Schools give me the opportunity to ‘spread the word’ to people all over the world. And I can also enthuse them with more than just the findings of my research into the psychosocial effects of exercise. We have the time to go into more depth on the background to the subject and to take measurements. Hopefully, those who take part then take what they have learnt back with them to their own countries.”

At the beginning of the week, everyone is given a fitness tracker, which tracks how much exercise they do over the course of the week.

What form does the week take?

“There are talks every morning, and in the afternoon we work on practical exercises, such as fitness tests. At the beginning of the week, everyone is given a fitness tracker, which tracks how much exercise they do over the course of the week. That way, they get to experience what it's like when the exercise you do is the subject of study, similar to what children undergo, for example. At the end of the week, we discuss the results together. We look at exercise medicine from a range of different perspectives. For example, Eero Haapala (Finland) tells us about the cognitive effects of exercise, and Sarah Moore (Canada) gives a lecture on motor development in children. The programme also includes a tour of the Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis (WKZ) children's hospital, to give participants a feel of the hospital.”

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Who is the Summer School intended for?

“What I hope to achieve is cross-pollination between students and professionals with a background in physiology, exercise science, nutrition or medicine. We’ve already received applications from Asia, the Middle East, the US and Africa, but people from Utrecht are welcome as well, of course! The whole week is a two-way experience. There are all kinds of group assignments that allow people to share knowledge with each other and provide opportunities for networking. The focus is not just on the speakers, since the participants also have interesting experiences to share. Last year, for example, we had a sports doctor from Brazil taking part in the programme who had worked with the women’s Olympic boxing team.”

Sport allows children to find their limits, and teaches them to cooperate with others and to deal with winning and losing.

Is the Summer School interdisciplinaty in nature?

“Over the course of the week, we approach the subject from a wide range of different perspectives. We have a diverse range of speakers, including a sports trainer, a behavioural scientist, a doctor and a physiotherapist. I hope that this great mix of speakers will fire people up about my field of study. That was certainly the case last year; a student from Saudi Arabia really opened my eyes with her stories about healthcare in her country. It was also the first time she had been on a bike! I was delighted when she rang me and asked if she could do an internship here at the WKZ! I think that’s great.”

How is the Summer School linked to Dynamics of Youth?

“The entire week focuses on healthy development. After all, at the end of the day, I’m both a researcher and a medical physiologist. I want to encourage children to do enough exercise. Sport isn’t just good for your body, it’s also extremely important for your psychological development. Sport allows children to find their limits, and teaches them to cooperate with others and to deal with winning and losing. The Summer School also considers the Dynamics of Youth project ‘Healthy Play, Healthy Development’, which looks at the role of games and play in the development of sick children.”

I see the Summer School as an extension of my research, which enables me to share this knowledge with others.

What is your role in the field of exercise medicine?

“I conduct research into the health benefits of sport for children and young people with a chronic illness or condition. My research indicates that children with a chronic illness or limitation who participate in sport do better than children without a chronic disease or limitation who don’t participate in sport. The children in the first group are more self-confident, are happier and have less body fat. They are fitter and have better self-esteem, which is crucial for their future. I see the Summer School as an extension of my research, which enables me to share this knowledge with others.”

If you would like to participate in the Summer School as well, you have until 15 July 2019 to register. If you have a question, please email Tim Takken.

Also interesing:

• Jeroen Pasterkamp on the Summer School Neural Circuit Development and Plasticity

• Louis Bont about the ‘Child Health – a Global Perspective’ Summer School​

Dynamics of Youth

In dealing with social problems, you need to start with the children. Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� invests in resilient youth. Within the research theme Dynamics of Youth, scientists from all fields of expertise work together in order to better understand child development. How can we help young people to grow and thrive in our rapidly changing society?