A pioneering all-island research consortium has been established to address the significant gender gap in sport and health science. The newly launched míde consortium brings together researchers from nine higher education institutions across Ireland, working collaboratively to enhance the health, wellbeing, participation and performance of girls and women in sport and physical activity.
The consortium was officially launched last week at the Women in Sport and Exercise Conference at Glasson Lake House, Co. Westmeath, attended by over 180 academics, researchers, and key opinion leaders. Delegates heard from leading Irish and international experts, including keynote speakers Professor Elizabeth Pike, Professor Anthony Hackney, Dr Patricia Jackman, and former Ireland international rugby player and Sport Ireland director, Nora Stapleton.
Dr Niamh Kitching, Lecturer in The Department of Arts Education and Physical Education at MIC, who presented her latest paper on children's views on women in sport at the event commented:
“I am delighted to be part of this cross-university consortium, bringing together so many experts dedicated to advancing research on women and girls in sport. We have made great progress already, and I am excited for the publication of our scoping review on research in this area on the island of Ireland. Working together is key to identifying and addressing the complex challenges facing women and girls in sport, exercise, and physical activity.”
Named after the Old Irish word míd, meaning middle or centre, míde is chaired by representatives from Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Dublin City University (DCU), Ulster University, and Atlantic Technological University (ATU). The initiative seeks to bridge the gender data gap in sport and exercise science, where currently only 6% of global research focuses on women and girls. By examining key life stages such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, míde aims to provide a more holistic understanding of the barriers to participation in sport and physical activity.
Dr Aoife Lane, Lead of the SHE Research Centre at TUS and Co-Chair of míde, emphasised the importance of a coordinated research approach:
“With growing investment in women’s sport and health, there is an urgent need to shape the research agenda strategically and collaboratively. míde is an exciting and novel initiative that unites the academic community across the island, fostering research that will drive meaningful change for women and girls in sport, exercise, and physical activity.”
Dr Brendan Egan, Head of the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU and Co-Chair of the consortium, outlined the ambitious goals of the initiative:
“The ambition of míde is to conduct world-leading research that addresses critical knowledge gaps in policy and practice, which have persisted due to the historic underrepresentation of females in health and performance research. By building a strong network of expertise, we can ensure high-quality, multi-site research that positions Ireland at the forefront of this domain.”
Dr Denise Martin, Lecturer and Researcher in Sports Performance Analysis at ATU, highlighted the consortium’s commitment to research impact:
“We recognise the importance of ensuring that research findings reach the people who matter—from policymakers to practitioners and to women and girls themselves. At ATU, alongside our partners, we are engaging directly with stakeholders working in sport and physical activity to shape research priorities that will have a lasting impact on the island of Ireland.”
Dr Katie Liston, Senior Lecturer at the School of Sport at Ulster University and Co-Chair of míde, spoke about strengthening north-south collaboration:
“Ulster University has a long history of championing the rights of women in sport and physical education. Our multidisciplinary researchers in the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute are bringing their expertise to míde to advance knowledge-sharing and deepen cross-border collaboration.”
