Dear colleagues,

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We are pleased to invite you to join our global research network, EMBODI-ED (Environment, Mind, Body Integrated in Education), which we are currently establishing. EMBODI-ED examines how bodily movement, cognitive development, and environmental context interact in education. Grounded in Cognitive Load Theory, embodied cognition, and environmental perspectives, our aim is to build an interdisciplinary community that advances rigorous science and informs educational practice.

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Research pillars

• Gestures and learning (examples include subtle movements in the area around the hands and how they impact learning, deep processing, understanding and transfer of knowledge).

• Whole-body movements (examples include subtle movement patterns where the body works as simulation in relation to learning theoretical concepts, learning with virtual/augmented reality, exergames, exerlearning).

• Physical activity on cognition and/or mental health (school-based/ classroom-based physical activities including gross motor movements and academic achievement, executive functions, metacognition, information processing speed, memory, creativity, intelligence, attention, concentration, and on-task behavior, as well as wellbeing, anxiety, quality of life, depression, mood, motivation, self-esteem).

• Physical activity and neuroscience (gross motor movements and changes on brain structure and function (blood flow, oxygenation, BDNF).

 

Grounded in Cognitive Load Theory, embodied cognition and learning, as well as ecological theories of psychology, psychosocial, behavioral, and neurobiological mechanisms of physical activity on cognition and environmental perspectives (e.g., group, type of instruction), our aim is to build an interdisciplinary community that advances rigorous science and informs educational practice.

 

By joining EMBODI-ED, you can:

• Gain insight on one or more research pillars

• Develop and exchange innovative research ideas in a supportive, collegial environment.

• Collaborate on multi-site and cross-disciplinary research projects.

• Apply jointly for competitive research funding.

• Share and disseminate findings through talks, research visits, and international conferences.

• Contribute to special issues in leading journals to increase the visibility and impact of our work.

• Communicate practical implications to educators and trainers.

• Translate findings into scalable strategies for teaching, training, and curriculum design across education and professional learning.

 

To support collaboration, we will host a dedicated website as a central hub for resources, project coordination, and dissemination. We would value your expertise and contributions to this community and look forward to collaborating.

 

Warm regards