Akin Saatci, a first-year student in the Ed.D. in KIN program, organized a conference in Istanbul, Turkey. The conference featured Dr. Brent Anderson from North Carolina along with esteemed instructors from around the world. The four-day event was attended by 320 participants from 15 countries.
With a vision to help exercise enthusiasts from Russia who are unable to travel freely to health and fitness events, Akin organized the seminar in Istanbul to allow Russians and Turks to participate in health and fitness events without having to worry about visa complications. To make the conference come to fruition, he rented a large ballroom, and the rest fell into place. He shared that “what started as an event for Russians and Turks evolved into an international gathering, with participants from Iran, Greece, Canada, Spain, Kazakhstan, and 15 countries in total.”
The conference was designed for movement professionals such as Pilates instructors, dancers, and fitness experts. Topics focused on breath, mobility, alignment, control and core control, and movement integration. The keynote speaker, Dr. Brent Anderson, presented on the highlighted topics and included practical mat exercise sessions. The f presentations combined theory and application which allowed participants to put what they learned into action. Inspired by the UNCG course KIN 739: Knowledge and Scholarship in Kinesiology, Akin lead a session on Movement Integration during the conference. He used the knowledge and concepts from the course (motor control, motor learning, and motor theory) to design an engaging mat class for participants. Akin stated that “it was incredibly fulfilling to apply what I’ve learned in my Ed.D. program to a real-world setting in such a dynamic way.” Akin appreciated the wonderful moment where Dr. Anderson acknowledged his work and his pursuit of his Ed.D. in Kinesiology at UNCG.
Akin says “it was rewarding to see everyone leave happy and inspired” after their time at the conference. As a result of his hard work and this successful conference, Akin has received invitations to host workshops from other countries including Portugal, Latvia, and Lithuania. Akin hopes to continue organizing multinational events and bringing recognition to the Ed.D. in KIN program at UNCG on a global stage.
Visit the Ed.D. in KIN website to learn more about the program.