Through our teaching, research, and scholarship, we analyze and aim to decentre structures and forms of systemic and institutionalized privilege. In so doing, we attempt to bring attention to and shift the histories and processes that have served to marginalize diverse peoples and communities. Here are some examples of our work.
- Krahn, A. N., Nakamura, Y., & Safai, P. (2025). Jack of All Trades, Master of One: Examining Tensions Around Preparing Work-Ready Kinesiology Graduates in Canada. Sociology of Sport Journal (published online ahead of print 2025). Retrieved Oct 20, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2024-0200
- Millington, B., Naraine, M. L., Wanless, L., Safai, P., & Manley, A. (2025). Sport and the Promise of Artificial Intelligence: Human and Machine Futures. Sociology of Sport Journal (published online ahead of print 2025). Retrieved Oct 20, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2024-0150
- Nakamura, Y., & Shah, N. (accepted). How can mobile health be taken up within physiotherapy? An exploratory study of an ACL rehabilitation app. Physiotherapy Canada.
- Rassol, H., & Nakamura, Y. (accepted). Third space identity negotiation: A case study of Muslim Canadians and faith- and community-based sport. Sociology of Sport Journal.
- Safai, P., & Krahn, A. N. (2024). “We haven’t agreed on that, and you’ll never get people to agree on that.” Contestation within the Canadian sport coaching professional project. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 60(6), 1043-1060. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902241302500 (Original work published 2025)
Ashley Day is currently working in partnership with the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) on a project entitled "Wiisokotaatiwin – Gathering to Discuss & Re-Imagine Health & Physical Education." The title, ‘Wiisokotaattiwin,’ is inspired by Anishinabek language that translates the concept as ‘gathering together for a purpose’. ‘Wiisokotaattiwin’ honours previous health research that situates relationships as a critical foundation of Indigenous wellbeing. The fundamental purpose of this project is to therefore establish and nurture relationships for the purposes of gathering, discussing, and imagining possibilities for anti-colonial health and physical education. This project is funded by the York University Indigenous Research Seed Fund Grant. For more information please click here
Lyndsay Hayhurst took part in Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) Mobility & Bike City Forum in December 2024, co-leading a workshop that explored the intersections of active mobility, sustainability, gender equity, and climate justice. This forum brought together international leaders, researchers, and advocates to examine the transformative role of cycling in fostering social change. Lyndsay co-facilitated a workshop titled "Pathways to Progress: Active Mobility as a Catalyst for Change" alongside Carly Gilbert-Patrick from the UN Environment Programme. During the session, Lyndsay shared findings from their SSHRC-funded research on “Bicycles for Mobility Justice and Development” and screened the documentary "Changing Gears." The film, developed in collaboration with community organizations in Canada, Nicaragua, and Uganda, highlights how bicycles can serve as tools for mobility justice, gender equity, and sustainable development—while also revealing how structural inequalities may limit these benefits. The 'Bicycles, Mobility Justice and Development' research team remain committed to critically engaging in discussions pertaining to cycling as a means of transformative change, while upholding mobility justice as a central element discussions on climate action and social equity.
Robots are increasingly used in public spaces to automate certain functions such as information gathering without human-human interaction. However, the decisions made by designers of robot algorithms may impact design outcomes. Given that current undergraduate students trained in, or familiar with, the robotics field will likely become robot designers, this study investigates their decision-making processes with the use of a social robot, NAO. Sachil Singh and Amy Wu (Ingenuity Labs Research Institute, Queen’s University) are embarking on this project with funding from NSERC, the CFREF and the Ingenuity Labs Research Institute Mitchell Professor Funds.
In addition, Sachil led the SSHRC-funded project "Surveillance Futures: Datafied Societies, Social Sorting, and Human Flourishing." This project mapped out ways to ensure that rapid technological advancement in various social spheres ranging from migration to health care does not outpace data justice and human rights regulations. One step in this work was an international workshop that Sachil co-organized that brought together leading and emerging surveillance scholars and community partners working in (and on) Southern Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Another step in this project is a Special Theme publication in Big Data & Society that Sachil is co-editing that will advance scholarship in this area.
Larkin has been unpacking how to decolonize mental health within the courses they teach. The project, Land as Counsellor, aims to explore whether and how we can decolonize the undergraduate curriculum in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science through focused attention on one concept (counselling) in one course (Counselling Skills for Kinesiology and Health Science). Partnering with Maloca Community and Native Plant Gardens at York University, Larkin Lamarche and team are co-developing in-class experiential education activities and an end-of-term reflection assignment exploring the idea of Land as Counsellor. The activities and assignment will be piloted in the course. The project is funded through a Fund for Innovations in Teaching grant. Learnings have shaped Larkin’s curriculum for the mental health theme in the first-year, Integrated Physical Activity for Life course. Students have reflected with a sweet grass teaching and participated in earthwork at Maloca to celebrate their last class in the theme.
An aerial image of Maloca Gardens at York University
"To be truly radical is to make hope possible, not despair convincing."
Raymond Williams