Richard Smith's academic career began with a Bachelor's degree (University of New South Wales) and Master's degree (Macquarie University) in physics. His interest in education of young people was fostered by a Diploma of Education (The University of Sydney) and of adults through a Master of Adult Education and Community Development (Manchester, U.K.) and Master of Arts (Macquarie). Returning to physics (this time of human movement) while teaching at the University of Technology, Sydney, he developed his interest in biomechanics. He pursued this interest through research into mechanical energy expenditure during movement and in 1997 received his PhD in biomechanics from Wollongong University. His major research interest in sport is rowing performance and in the clinical area, gait, with particular emphasis on mobility for the spinal cord-injured individual and on foot mechanics and its effects on the motion of the rest of the body. He has published a number of papers and has been awarded a number of research grants in these areas. He is currently the Research Manager of the School of Exercise & Sport Science and coordinates the Research Training Program.

Richard is the Unit of Study coordinator for   EXSS 5030: Human Mechanics.

                                                             and  EXSS 3038 Ergonomics

He supervises a number of enthusiastic research students.

You can email Richard at R.Smith@fhs.usyd.edu.au

Last modified: 23 November 2003

Copyright, University of Sydney 1997