These Events Took Place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025
About
Increased frequency and intensity of heat waves, increased incidents of poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke, and increased disease burden from expanding ranges of vector-borne disease are a few of the ecological changes that are impacting athletes. Shifting averages and altered extremes impact health, performance, and equity for the entire population, but athletes face particular risks. The study of sports, the natural environment, and the relationship between the two, known as sport ecology, aims to research and provide guidance to combat and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate on sports. Athletics must adapt to changing ecologies and adopt preventative measures that include education, training, and policies to maintain participation and prevent potential loss of life.
Join the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center and State Climate Office of Ohio in welcoming two sport ecology experts, Drs. Jessica Murfree and Benika Dixon, to Ohio State virtually on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025. Over the course of the day, Drs. Murfree and Dixon presented on the emerging field of sport ecology, practices being adopted around the world to protect athletes from adverse environmental conditions, identified gaps in youth athletics policies, and considerations for future applied research and education with a focus on the Midwest.
9:00 am - 10:15 am
Turf Grass Facility at Waterman Farm off North Star Road and virtual
The first event of the day was cosponsored by the Turf Grass Science Team at OSU and held at the Turf Grass Facility at Waterman off of North Star Road from 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM.
Watch the event here:
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Hamilton Hall Room 180 and virtual
The second event of the day was sponsored by The Ohio State University School of Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences and was held in Hamilton Hall, room 180 and virtually over Zoom from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM as Drs. Murfree and Dixon first discussed different aspects of sport ecology and then followed up with a discussion tailored towards the interests of medical, researchers, and health professionals.
Watch the event here:
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Virtual
Finally, Drs. Murfree and Dixon were featured by our cosponsor LifeSports on their Coach Beyond series and presented a seminar tailored towards the public, coaches, trainers, and sports management professionals.
Watch the event here:
Speakers
Dr. Jessica Murfree
Dr. Jessica Murfree, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Sport Administration and Hyde Family Foundation Fellow in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Prior to joining the EXSS faculty, Dr. Murfree was on the faculties of the University of Cincinnati, Texas A&M University, and the University of Louisville. Dr. Murfree earned a B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science from UNC Chapel Hill, M.A. in Kinesiology from the University of Alabama, and Ph.D. in Sport Administration at the University of Louisville.
Dr. Murfree is a sport ecology researcher studying the effects of climate change on sport through societal implications of climate risks and environmental disparities. To date, her research has informed organizations including the United Nations Environment Program, Climate Week NYC, Climate Central, Red Bull, and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Her research has contributed to sport industry conversations in The Athletic and Sports Illustrated and has been featured in outlets like Scientific American and Forbes. She is a 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Sports Honoree, and a recipient of Yale University’s School of Public Health Certificate in Climate Change and Health.
Learn more about Dr. Murfree’s scholarship here: www.jessicamurfree.com
Dr. Benika Dixon
Dr. Benika Dixon, DrPH, is an accomplished academic and researcher specializing in the health impacts of environmental exposures, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations and environmental justice communities. As an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University, she blends expertise in epidemiology, environmental health, hazard and disaster research, and community engagement to address pressing public health challenges. Dr. Dixon is a Faculty Fellow with both the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center (HRRC) and the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness at Texas A&M. With years of experience working with local governments and non-profits as a climate and disaster epidemiologist, she has applied her expertise to support community resilience and public health preparedness. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized with her recent appointment as a 2024 U.S. Kavli Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences.
The hosting of these two sport ecologists and further education of the community on this vital issue could not be done without the collaboration of those at Turf Grass Science Team, The Ohio State College of Medicine, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and LifeSports.