Stelios Psycharakis had a love of everything aquatic from a very young age. He grew up in Crete and, surrounded by the sea, some of his happiest childhood memories include beach holidays at the southern part of the island, where he would spend hours in the water. Stelios took up swimming as a teenager, and represented Greece at international competitions. He still seizes every chance of splashing around, from snorkeling with his parents, to squeezing in a few lengths at the pool during his kids’ swim classes. Much of Stelios’ early research has been on performance swimming, but nowadays he focuses primarily on how aquatic exercise can help reduce injury and illness, and improve health and rehabilitation. Key research topics include falls prevention for older adults,  treatment and management of back pain, and overuse injuries in swimming. Stelios is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, and the Principal Investigator of Aqua Steps.

Dawn Skelton‘s grandmother was the inspiration for her to study the benefits of physical activity on falls risk and concern about falling. Her grandma Agnes lived to 98, and in the last few years of her life fell regularly, but while she could still get up again, there was no stopping her baking and knitting for the ‘old ladies’ in the care home up the road! Dawn is not a natural water baby, she can swim but prefers to paddle in the sea rather than swim in a pool. However, she appreciates many people do like to be in the pool, and as an internationally renowned exercise physiologist and falls prevention expert, in terms of land based exercise, she appreciated the potential benefits of water based exercise. She is a Professor of Ageing and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University, was a member of the World Falls Guidelines (2022) and also co-leads a not for profit training company (22 years old), as she appreciates the importance of getting that evidence base out there and used.

Linda Linton has always enjoyed water activities, from learning to swim at age three, then more latterly enjoying open water swimming. Working as a physiotherapist, swimming and aquatic exercise are always encouraged as part of rehabilitation and also ongoing management of injuries, conditions, health and well-being. Therefore, over Covid when the pools closed, Linda could see the impact this had on people’s lives and her own when pools weren’t accessible. Being part of the Aqua Steps research team for falls prevention meant Linda re-engaged with water and could appreciate how much it meant to the older adults participating in Aqua Steps returning to the pool for aquatic exercise, some after as many as 40 years. Other research projects Linda has been involved in have been the WATER project (aquatic exercise for low back pain), and strategies for prevention of running-related injuries. As well as working clinically and academically as a physiotherapist, Linda work in a GP Practice as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner with NHS Midlothian. Linda has been involved with falls prevention through this role and currently have an NHS Fellowship to organize a Community Appointment Day for falls prevention and bone health awareness in Midlothian, which involves bringing together all healthcare professionals and third sector parties for all older adults to access for advice and management on how to reduce risk of falling.

Diane Chirnside enjoys cycling, walking and more recently river dipping/swimming in her local River Tweed.  She also loves to make her own natural soap bars from plant oils, herbs and flowers from her garden.  Her dream is to live in a Chateau in the South of France.  Diane is the Research, Engagement and Impact Administrator for the Aqua Steps project and has been involved with participant recruitment, appointment scheduling, finance administration and public seminar organisation.

Niamh Carter is a sports science and physiology technician at the University of Edinburgh. Because of Niamh’s background in sport rehabilitation, she was keen to join the Aqua Steps research team when Dr Psycharakis first mentioned it to her and she’s glad she did. When Niamh is not working, she likes to read fiction, go bouldering and visit her family in Switzerland.

Anna Beattie was introduced to swimming from age five and spent many weekends at the swimming pool either competing in her swim club or having a social catch up with friends. After moving to Australia with her family, she was amazed by all the outdoor and backyard swimming pools. With incredible beaches close by, she occasionally attempted open water swimming and even surfing. Anna is an Assistant Research Technician for the Aqua Steps project and has been involved in participant testing, data collection and data entry.

Suhaib Rambo is a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh and a qualified physiotherapist with a strong interest in physical activity, health education, and injury prevention. Originally from Saudi Arabia, Suhaib has always had a passion for different kinds of sports. While he enjoyed watching and casually playing volleyball, the sport became a bigger part of his life after moving to Scotland, where he joined a community club and now regularly takes part in local tournaments. Suhaib’s research focuses on swimming-related injuries and illnesses, aiming through his project to develop an injury prevention programme to reduce injury rates and improve swimmers’ quality of life. At Aqua Steps, he works as a Research Assistant Technician, supporting participant engagement, data collection, and analysis.

John Norrie is a medical statistician and clinical trialist, dedicated to improving health through randomised trials. John has led academic Clinical Trials Units in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, having started his career in Glasgow, and now continues his work at Queen’s University Belfast. John is involved in global health initiatives and chairs various national funding boards, and provides independent oversight for landmark trials. John was elected Fellow Society for Clinical Trials (2015) and Faculty Public Health (2018) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2022) and is a Chartered Statistician. John is fascinated by using randomised designs not just in medicine but in business, education, and justice; and is happiest when advising on trial design, and when wandering in the beautiful Scottish cities and countryside. He used to be a keen swimmer but now settles for a long run every now and again.