Auburn’s Warrior Research Center hosting first Tactical Athlete Human Factors Summit

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The Warrior Research Center at Auburn University will host its inaugural Tactical Athlete Human Factors Summit July 27-28 in the Foy Hall auditorium on the Auburn campus.

The conference is at the intersection of health, technology and innovation for U.S. Armed Forces and first responders. Members of the military, academia, industry and government are invited to share novel ideas and report key findings with the goal of optimizing tactical athlete performance, health and wellness.

"We are very excited to spearhead the research collaboration effort in assisting our armed forces and tactical athletes," said Warrior Research Center Director JoEllen Sefton. "I have had a vision of hosting this conference for several years since working with our military partners. This is going to bring together the best and brightest involved with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, firefighters and police to give new insight into tactical athlete training, injury reduction, performance optimization and equipment development."

The keynote speaker is Douglas Tamilio, director of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Natick, Massachusetts. He plans, coordinates and executes the research, development and engineering program, which helps sustain and protect the nation’s combat forces from the stresses of war through functionally suitable food, clothing, equipment and shelters. The center delivers world-class research, development, systems engineering and services with the unique soldier-centric focus.

The conference will begin at 8 a.m., Thursday, July 27 and will include presentations, posters and panels throughout the day, along with a networking reception in the late afternoon. Sessions will continue Friday, July 28 until 11:30 a.m. The conference will take place at Auburn University with accommodations available Wednesday and Thursday nights at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

The deadline for proposals for presentations, posters and panel discussions for the summit is April 15. The center invites ideas related to soldier performance, training and education, injury reduction, medical rehabilitation and treatment, technology and equipment and vehicle impact. Abstracts can be submitted online on the conference website by clicking on the Submit Abstract button under Call for Proposals.

For more information about the event and to register, go to http://aub.ie/TAsummit. Early registration ends April 30, regular registration ends June 30, and late registrations will be accepted until the conference date. For additional questions, contact Kristin Roberts at the Auburn University School of Kinesiology at kar0032@auburn.edu.

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.