By Griffin Barfield
Clemson University’s Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute will host its second-annual Research and Creative Endeavors in the Sports Sciences (RECESS) Symposium from November 10-14, 2025.
The greater Clemson community — faculty, students, staff, alumni and others — is invited to attend RECESS to network and learn about the work of faculty, students and staff engaged in various sports science fields, throughout the week. From experiencing virtual reality labs to discovering social media analytics, numerous events will take place to create a fun-filled celebration.
“We look forward to showcasing the innovative work of our talented Brooks Sports Science Faculty Fellows and students,” said John DesJardins, Ph.D., interim director of the Institute and a professor in the Department of Bioengineering. “Whether you can make only one tour, or come to all the events, we hope that you will benefit from the opportunity to learn, network and discover all that the sports sciences have to offer here at Clemson University.”
A week of sports science education and celebration
Each day, the Institute will host a morning coffee session in Sirrine Hall with poster presentations from Brooks Faculty Fellows and their students. Light refreshments will be offered as well as the chance to network with faculty, staff and students from across the University.
Morning sessions will feature a ‘physics of sport’ demonstration, posters on sports marketing and athlete psychology, sports engineering research and much more. Click here to see the full schedule.
After the morning sessions, two tours of sports science labs and facilities will be offered each day for RECESS. Most tours will take place on main campus, while shuttles will be provided to tour locations offsite, such as the Department of Automotive Engineering’s tour of CU-ICAR, which will take place in Greenville, South Carolina, on Tuesday, November 11.
Other lab tours led by faculty fellows will include, but are not limited to:
- Watt Family Athletic Performance and Wellness Center, Clemson Athletics
- Human Mobility Lab (HuMbL), Department of Bioengineering
- Design and Research of In-Vehicle Experiences (DRIVE) Lab, School of Computing
- Clemson University Equine Center, South Carolina 4-H
- Advanced Print Lab, Department of Graphic Communications
- Clemson Headgear Impact Performance (CHIP) Lab, Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences
- Pursuing Health Through Adaptation, Sports and Ergonomics (PHASE) Lab, Department of Industrial Engineering
- Social Media Listening Center, Department of Communication
Click here to see the full list of tours and activities.
GRIT Awards
On Friday, November 14, the Institute will announce recipients of the 2025 GRIT Awards at RECESS, given to individuals or groups who have set themselves apart in the following areas of sports science: research, community and outreach, student engagement and furthering the Institute’s mission. A trophy will be awarded to the winner of each category.
Faculty, staff and students may nominate themselves or others by filling out this form. Nominations are due by Midnight on Friday, October 24.
RSVP’s for RECESS will be accepted here up until the week of the event.
