Dr Heather Driscoll

Profile

Dr Heather Driscoll is a University Teacher at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and specialises in teaching mathematics on the degree apprenticeship programmes. Heather also leads the project modules in the second and third years with a focus on environmental sustainability. Her research background is in Sports Engineering, investigating modelling the interaction between an athlete and the environment to improve performance or minimise the risk of injury. 

She is currently undertaking a MEd in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, with pedagogical research associated with teaching mathematics in engineering playing an important role in this. Heather graduated from the University of Bath in 2008 and went on to complete a PhD sponsored by Adidas at Sheffield Hallam University in 2012. 

Research interests

• Teaching and learning in higher education
• Sports engineering
• Mathematical modelling
• Image processing

Publications

• Gillespie D, Hoon Yap M, Hewitt B, Driscoll H, Simanaviciute U, Hodson-Tole E & Grant R (2019) Description and validation of the LocoWhisk system: Quantifying rodent exploratory, sensory and motor behaviours. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 328.
• Oudshoorn B, Driscoll H, Dunn M & James D (2017) Identifying representative test parameters to assess skin laceration injury risk for individual studs. Footwear Science, 9 (sup.1), 29-31.
• Oudshoorn B, Driscoll H, Dunn M & James D (2017) Kinetic and kinematic analysis of stamping  impacts during simulated rucking in rugby union. Journal of Sport Sciences, 36 (8), 914-919.
• Oudshoorn B, Driscoll H, Kilner K, Dunn M & James D (2017) Prevalence of laceration injuries in professional and amateur rugby union: a systematic review and metaanalysis. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 3(1), e000239. 26 May 2017.
• Driscoll H, Bullas A, King C, Senior T, Haake S & Hart J (2016) Application of Newtonian Physics to predict the speed of a gravity racer. Physics Education, 51(4), 1-7.
• Driscoll H, Kelley J, Kirk B, Koerger H & Haake S (2014) Measurement of shoe-surface interaction metrics during in situ performance analysis. Sports Engineering, 18(2), 105-113. 14 August 2014.
• Kirk R, Driscoll H, Kelley J, Hickey L & ADIDAS-AG (2014) Method of measuring a property of a trajectory of a ball with a mobile computer device. [online]. US Patent 20140300745 A1.
• Speed with Guy Martin. Gravity Racer. Series 2, episode 4. (2014). [TV broadcast]. Channel 4. 16 November.

Teaching modules

• Mathematics and computing for engineering
• Further mathematics and computing for engineering
• Multidisciplinary project
• Industrial project
• Manufacture and mechanics of modern materials

Professional activities

• Programme Level Approach Lead for AMRC degree
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Past President; International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA)
• Editorial board member; Proceedings of the IMechE, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology
• Technical advisor; World Rugby