Narrative
Narrative: With the growing interest in the field of exercise science, the Florida Atlantic University Exercise Science and Health Promotion (ESHP) Department has grown immensely. With that said, more students have declared ESHP as their major, resulting in expansion of the research labs and student-involved research. The expansion of the labs and student body put the department in a need for new cycle ergometers in order to continue research, gain valuable knowledge, and learn practical laboratory skills. We did obtain 5 in 2013 with a technology fee grant. However, with the expansion of our labs and research, we need 5 more to accommodate the 700+ faculty and students who use these on a yearly basis. Since undergraduate and graduate students are asking for the current Cosmed cycle ergometer, I wanted to submit this technology fee grant. The cycle ergometer, known as the stationary bike, is the top of the line cycle ergometer. The cycle ergometer is useful in maximal and submaximal oxygen consumption assessments, lactate threshold tests, and for various cardiorespiratory assessments. The Cosmed cycle ergometer provides individuals with a mode of low-impact cardiorespiratory exercise. The cycle ergometer is currently used in ESHP classes such as APK 4110L Exercise Physiology Lab, PET 4550L Exercise Testing Lab, and PET 5521 Exercise Science Lab Methods.
For strategic plan (pillars, platforms, goals), in summary, these cycle ergometers would involve the area of health and wellness, in which we would definitely be cultivating and teaching the ESHP majors, both graduate and undergraduate, the latest technology to prepare them for their future internships and jobs within our field. In addition, the cycle ergometers provide undergraduate research and inquiry with more opportunities.
Since this cycle ergometer is a low-impact mode of cardiorespiratory fitness, the FAU Well Program participants (average age 74 years old), a community-outreach program, could use this under supervision during the PET 4947 course, which meets three times a week. The kinesiology classes could also use this cycle ergometer to analyze cardiorespiratory performance, cycling biomechanics, and proper calibration of the device. Also, assessments could be offered to the community (community engagement area), once training is completed.
The Cosmed cycle ergometers provide hands on and research experiences for the ESHP students. The students would have scholarship opportunities, plus be able to prepare for graduate level research programs, while creating various research projects, not just within the department, but with other departments and the community.
If this request is funded, the equipment would be introduced and used yearly (all three semesters) by more than 700 FAU students [500 to 600 Exercise Science and Health Promotion majors], plus faculty and graduate students. ESHP students, graduate and undergraduate, will also have the opportunity to be trained on the system. As you know, the FAU ESHP degree is a very popular major at FAU, currently, we are the fourth largest (over 1200+students) undergraduate degree, plus 60+ master’s students. Upgrading the department’s technology with this equipment, the students will be prepared to work and study with state-of-the-art equipment. All of the faculty efforts, in the labs, are designed to instruct the students about exercise science techniques with strong emphasis on the scientific methods of inquiry. These particular opportunities, of having the latest in technology, provide the student a marketable advantage, not only for a job, but for advanced training at the master’s and/or doctorate level. The student also becomes more aware of the process of acquiring scientific knowledge and understanding advanced technology, which will generate more interest in their classes and possibly research.
In summary, purchasing the Cosmed cycle ergometers will allow the ESHP graduate and undergraduate students, as well as the community to gain further knowledge about health, wellness, and research. The proposed goal will improve student training efficiency on their specific techniques, benefit graduate student projects by having another updated piece of equipment, plus increase student research training on this new technology. In fact, this application would enhance the FAU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) initiative regarding improvements to student training. Thus, this application is an excellent and timely investment in regards to FAU’s research structure.
