New CASES Environmental Extremes Special Interest Group

The Environmental Extremes Special Interest Group (EESIG) was created in 2026 and is led by Co-Convenors Dr Ash Willmott MCASES and Dr Neil Maxwell HonFCASES. The EESIG aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, educators and students alike, who are CASES members and working or interested in environmental extremes, to exchange evidence-informed practice and research, foster collaboration, facilitate education, produce informative resources and address real-world problems.

The EESIG will position itself as a central hub for advancing environmental research, applied practice and sharing knowledge within CASES, that will span several themes including heat and cold stress, climate health, adaptation and resilience strategies, water safety, space, and air pollution. It will promote collaborative studies, evidence‑informed practice, interdisciplinary exchange, and practical problem‑solving, while disseminating insights through webinars, articles within The Sport and Exercise Scientist (TSES), CASES’ conferences and website resources.

By collaborating closely with Climate Action and Sustainability Advisory Group (CASAG), the EESIG will link environmental physiology to broader climate action and sustainability priorities, strengthening its strategic influence across the sector. Through this partnership, the group will also develop national and international links with professional bodies, universities, and global research networks, enabling joint research projects, student exchanges, and wider collaborative opportunities.

Please see below for the EESIG’s Objectives, an introductory welcome from the Co-Convenors, and how to get involved. Please keep an eye out for updates throughout the year.

EESIG Objectives

There are five key themes of the EESIG as outlined below, with associated aims:

1. Health, Safety, and Performance in Extreme Environments

• Advance evidence-informed practice and promote the integration of cutting-edge research into practical applications, to address real-world challenges
• This will focus on the physiological and psychological responses to heat, cold, altitude, microgravity and pollution, with specific emphasis on ageing populations, Para athletes, and inclusivity in environmental physiology research.
• Highlight applied strategies to protect athletes, occupational groups, and the general population from illness, injury, and performance decrements.

2. Collaboration, Networking, and Capacity Building

• Facilitate collaboration between researchers, practitioners, educators, and students to share expertise and foster interdisciplinary partnerships. With specific focus on supporting early-career researchers, mentoring opportunities, and creating inclusive spaces for networking.
• Seek multi-centre, cross-institutional projects to leverage diverse facilities (e.g., heat chambers, altitude labs).
• Build national and international partnerships across academia, industry, defence, and public health.

3. Knowledge Exchange and Professional Development

• Support professional development and deliver workshops, webinars, conferences, and informal networking events to share best practice.
• Develop toolkits, guidelines, and TSES articles to translate research into applied practice.
• Create opportunities for CPD through hands-on experiences, expeditions, and practitioner-focused training.

4. Policy, Advocacy, and Real-World Impact

• Advocate safe and effective practice, and shape policy to protect athletes, spectators, and the public from heat-related illness and climate risks.
• Engage with government, NGOs, and professional bodies to embed evidence-informed recommendations and influence event scheduling, broadcasting, and safety standards in sport and occupational settings.

5. Innovation, Sustainability, and Future Directions

• Position the EESIG as a hub for coordinated, impactful research aligned with climate change challenges.
• Explore commercial collaborations and experiential learning opportunities for students and practitioners.
• Promote sustainable practices and resilience strategies that connect sport science with broader climate action agendas.

Introduction from Co-Convenors:

Commenting on the creation of the new EESIG, Co-Convenor, Dr Ash Willmott MCASES, said; “We’re really excited to launch the new Environmental Extremes SIG at CASES to share and drive forward evidence‑informed research, education and applied practice. As environmental challenges grow, it’s vital that we lead with collaboration, scientific rigour and real‑world impact across heat, cold, climate health and beyond. It’s great to see so many members interested in joining the SIG already, from PhD students and early career researchers, to those with a wealth of experience in research, academia, occupation and applied practice - who are from our national and international community of sport scientists.”

Dr Ash Willmott MCASES (Ash.Willmott@aru.ac.uk) – Associate Professor of Exercise and Environmental Physiology at Anglia Ruskin University.

Co-Convenor, Dr Neil Maxwell, also said: “The creation of the Environmental Extremes Special Interest Group marks a pivotal step in uniting researchers, practitioners, and educators to tackle the challenges of extreme environments. By fostering collaboration, advancing evidence-informed practice, and linking environmental physiology to climate action, EESIG will drive innovation and real-world impact across CASES and further afield.”

Dr Neil Maxwell HonFCASES (N.Maxwell@brighton.ac.uk) – Reader of Applied Environmental Physiology at University of Brighton.

How to get involved

CASES members can opt into communications from this Special Interest Group via their Member Profile (in the Members' Area) to receive updates or email Jane Bairstow (jbairstow@cases.org.uk) to be added to the group.

CASES members can also contact Dr Ash Willmott (Ash.willmott@aru.ac.uk) to get involved directly in the EESIG or for further information.