Dr. Johan de Jong

Dr. Johan de Jong is a professor in Healthy Lifestyle, Sports & Physical Activity (2011-present) and Associate Professor of Human Movement Sciences at the University of Groningen/University Medical Center Groningen (end of 2021-present). His research focus is on the theme Healthy Lifestyle & Living Environment with the emphasis on: community based lifestyle interventions, socio-ecological system approach for Healthy Lifestyle & Living Environment and Citizen Science & Implementation in the context of a healthy lifestyle and living environment. Within the Centre of Expertise Healthy Aging at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, he is the driving force behind the theme 'Healthy Lifestyle and Living Environment' and the transition accelerator/enabler 'Citizen Science and Implementation'.

As a lecturer, senior lecturer and programme team manager, he has been responsible for the development of various (inter)national minor, bachelor's and master's programmes on the theme of 'sport, exercise and health' and 'healthy ageing'. Based on his extensive experience in the field of education and practice-oriented research, the integration of newly developed knowledge in education and further training programmes is a natural way of working. Johan has extensive experience in leading large national and especially international projects (Erasmus+ sport, Knowledge Alliances, Capacity Building). Because of this background, he is used to managing large (international) project consortia, dealing with cultural differences, diversity and conflict management. Since 2014, he has been working in projects with so-called Living Labs where, together with public and private partners, other educational and knowledge institutions and citizens, people collaborate, experiment and learn about various themes in the field of healthy lifestyle and living environment (including Drenthe Gezond, Kennislab BIOR Noord, Living Lab exercise-friendly Vinkhuizen, Living Lab E& etc.). Johan is a member of the board of the 'European Network of Sport Education' and he is a representative of Hanze University Groningen in the 'European Citizen Science Association/Health work group', 'WHO-Health Enhancing Physical Activity-Europe network' and the 'Our voice: Citizen Science for health equity global research network'. Johan has published more than 75 (scientific) publications and given a multitude of presentations, see Pure and Researchgate. He is a reviewer for various scientific journals (including Preventive Medicine, Sports Medicine) and subsidy programmes such as Regieorganisatie SIA, the Dutch Heart Foundation and ZonMw. Finally, he won the European Health Promotion Award (2000) and the Preffi Prize (1999) as the best implementation project of a community-based sports and exercise programme for the elderly in Europe and the Netherlands.