Join Us in Manhattan, Kansas in 2025
We're excited to prepare for the 2025 Active Living Conference taking place March 16-20 in Manhattan, Kansas! Hosted by Kansas State University, this conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders focused on creating active and healthy places for all.
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The theme for 2025 is Bridging the Research to Practice Gap. This year's Active Living Conference will aim to learn from diverse organizations (e.g., universities, extension offices, parks and recreation, hospital systems), not only about the cutting-edge research being done but also how the research is impacting the communities in which they live. In addition to bridging the research-to-practice gap, it is critical to learn from other organizations about how they develop successful partnerships with each other (e.g., between community and universities) to address community needs to improve health and overall quality of life. By prioritizing the cultivation of sound partnerships and streaming research into practice, we can tailor health-related programming that addresses the unique needs of the spaces in which we live, work, and play.
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The conference will feature:
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Presentations from leading practitioners and researchers in the field of active living
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Interactive workshops and sessions focused on translating research into practice
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Opportunities to network and collaborate with colleagues from across the globe
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A focus on building capacity to create active and healthy communities
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The 2025 Active Living Conference, hosted by Kansas State University, will highlight research, evidence-based practices, community partnerships, policies and strategies through panel discussions, workshops, presentations, physical activity opportunities, and idea sharing. The information presented and exchanged at the conference will help researchers and practitioners understand how to build effective community partnerships, learn innovative strategies for translating research to practice, and provide a platform to build upon and develop new partnerships to promote active living.
Joining us at 2025 Active Living Conference
To make the most of your experience, we encourage you to arrive on Sunday, March 16th as there will be a networking social that evening, and the conference will kick off on Monday morning. The local airport to fly into is Manhattan, Kansas (MHK).
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information! We'll be sharing details about registration, the conference program, and accommodations in the coming months. A Call for Presentation Proposals will be released on mid-July with a deadline of September 16, 2024.
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About Kansas State University
It is fitting that the 2025 Active Living Conference be held at Kansas State University, the nation’s first operational land grant college and the first to admit women. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension Service, a vital part of Kansas State University’s three-part mission – education, research, and extension. A central focus of the work being done at Kansas State is to collaborate with community stakeholders to advance both research and practice efforts. For over 100 years, Kansas State University and K-State Research and Extension has focused on improving the lives of Kansans through education, research, engagement, and leadership. Through these efforts and partnerships, there has been a strong emphasis on translating science into practice and making it accessible and relevant to every household.
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Additionally, the KSU Kinesiology department places a strong emphasis on translation through behavioral research, high-quality student field-based experiences, and leading campus health-related initiatives such as Exercise is Medicine on Campus (Gold Level). On November 28th, 2023, Kansas State University took another stride forward by becoming a Health Promoting University, signing the Okanagan Charter - an international charter that calls on post-secondary schools to embed health into all aspects of campus culture, and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally. This step cemented K-State’s commitment to prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional health of not only our campuses, but the broader communities in which we serve.
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Thank You to our 2025 Active Living Conference Co-Chairs:
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Gina Besenyi, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Physical Activity Research in Community Settings (PARCS) Lab, Kansas State University
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Peter Stoepker, PhD, Assistant Professor and Director of the Active Schools Lab, Kansas State University
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Jessica Stroope, PhD, MPH, Research Associate & Physical Activity Specialist, LSU AgCenter​
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Getting Involved
Reach out to our Event Coordinator, Amanda Walker, for opportunities to be involved!
Background on The Active Living Conference
Background on the The Active Living Conference (ALC): ALC began in 2004 and is a venue for both cutting-edge research and for making findings usable by non-scientists. The conference brings together a diverse audience and provides networking and engagement opportunities for active living researchers and practitioners from many fields. Presentations and discussions focus on the importance of creating healthier communities for all people.
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The 2024 ALC was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, March 25-28, 2024. A diverse group of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers attended to advance knowledge and action on how to evaluate, create, and sustain active living environments. See more here about the 2024 ALC Conference.