A bronze medalist in the Paralympics Games will visit West Virginia University as part of WVU’s College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences 2012 spring lecture series. The talk, entitled “Adaptive Sports and Recreation as a Vehicle for Community Reintegration, Resilience and Participation” will highlight research on sports, adaptive equipment and adaptation in the community.

Dr. Rory Cooper has been a guest lecturer at many institutions around the world and has received global recognition for his work with paralyzed veterans. He is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on wheelchair design, and for innovation and leadership in engineering and education.

Cooper will be on campus Thursday, Jan. 26 to offer a lecture at 2 p.m. in room 255 of the WVU Coliseum. The talk is open to students, faculty, staff and the general public.

Cooper is the FISA & Paralyzed Veterans of America Chair and Distinguished Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and professor of Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physical Medicine & Rehab, and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.

“Dr. Cooper’s visit is a tremendous opportunity for University faculty to learn from, brainstorm and network with a top academic in the area of adapted sport and recreation,” says Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach, assistant professor, CPASS. “Dr. Cooper is a highly respected, national expert in quality of life technology,” Dieffenbach adds.

Cooper has authored or co-authored more than 225 peer-reviewed journal publications. He has 10 patents awarded or pending and is the author of two books. For more biographical information, see: http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/people/bios/Cooper1.asp.

For more information, contact Kim Cameon at 304-293-0827 or kimberly.cameon@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

01/25/12

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CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, CPASS
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu