Concussion activism and immersion with Peter Robinson
This is a somewhat different take on immersive research. Peter is an activist and campaigner who has spent years trying to raise awareness and change policy in relation to concussion in sport. I wanted to speak to him to highlight his important message but also to demonstrate how experiences can drive our understanding of a topic.
Peter is not an academic researcher, but as you’ll see from this interview his knowledge of concussion is extremely rich. The loss of his son, Ben as a result of secondary impact syndrome from a rugby game, has given Peter an insight into concussion which remains absent from biomedical accounts of the brain injuries. This unique position highlights important lessons that can be learnt from those who exist within cultures rather than research them from relatively detached positions.
Related links
To learn more about Ben’s story you can read these articles on The Guardian and The New York Times
‘If in doubt, sit them out’ campaign policy
Academic research on concussion:
On being ‘headstrong’: The pain zone and concussion in non-elite rugby union