The VOICEINSPORT Foundation has initiated a new multi-year grant program, titled the VISF Grant for Women in Sport Science Research. As the name might hint, this initiative is specifically designed to provide financial support to women researchers, with a particular emphasis placed on former athletes and doctoral candidates, who are conducting sports science studies focused on female athletes. The first grant recipient is Katie Rainsberger, a former professional runner and current PhD candidate whose research will examine energy deficiency and hormonal health in women athletes.
The VISF Grant for Women in Sport Science Research underscores a significant research gap, notably that a very small percentage of sports science literature is dedicated to women, and an even smaller proportion is led by women investigators.
The VOICEINSPORT Foundation also shared that a founding brand partner of the grant is the nutrition and supplement company Momentous, which factors its involvement under its broader 'Change the Ratio' initiative.
Image Credit: VOICEINSPORT x Momentous
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Women-focused Sports Science
- Increasing emphasis on female-led research highlights the potential for groundbreaking discoveries in women's health within sports science.
- Diversity-driven Research Funding
- Expanding grant programs focused on underrepresented demographics may shift the landscape of academic research funding priorities.
- Cross-industry Collaborations
- Partnerships between nutrition brands and research foundations can drive mutual growth and innovation in addressing gender disparities in sports science.
Sectors Adopting This
- Sports Science Research
- The emergence of grant programs dedicated to women researchers could transform the focus of sports science towards more inclusive and diverse studies.
- Higher Education and Academia
- The trend of supporting female academics, particularly former athletes as researchers, could disrupt traditional academic career pathways and research development.
- Nutrition and Supplement Manufacturing
- Collaborating with sports science initiatives enables nutrition brands to innovate in product development tailored to the needs of female athletes.
