Dr. Johan de Jong

Dr Johan de Jong has been a professor of Healthy Lifestyle, Sports & Physical Activity since 2011 and an Associate Professor at the University of Groningen/University Medical Centre Groningen, in the Department of Human Movement Sciences, since late 2021.

His research focuses on the theme of Healthy Lifestyle & Living Environment, with an emphasis on community-based lifestyle interventions, a socio-ecological systems approach to Healthy Lifestyle & Living Environment, and Citizen Science & Implementation in this context.

Within the Centre of Expertise Healthy Ageing at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, he leads the theme Healthy Lifestyle and Living Environment as well as the transition accelerator Citizen Science. As a lecturer, professor, and programme team manager, he has been responsible for developing various (inter)national minor, bachelor, and master programmes on the themes of ‘sport, physical activity, and health’ and ‘healthy ageing’. Drawing on his extensive experience in education and practice-based research, integrating newly developed knowledge into education and professional development programmes is a natural part of his approach.

Johan has substantial experience in leading large national and, particularly, international projects (Erasmus+ Sport, Knowledge Alliances, Capacity Building). His background has equipped him to manage large (international) project consortia, navigate cultural differences, foster diversity, and handle conflict resolution.

Since 2014, he has been involved in projects using so-called Living Labs, where public and private partners, educational and research institutions, and citizens collaborate, experiment, and learn about various topics related to healthy lifestyle and living environment (e.g. Drenthe Gezond, Kennislab BIOR Noord, Living Lab Beweegvriendelijk Vinkhuizen, Living Lab E& etc.).

Johan is a board member of the European Network of Sport Education and represents Hanze UAS in the European Citizen Science Association/Health Work Group, the WHO Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Europe Network, and the Our Voice: Citizen Science for Health Equity Global Research Network.

He has published over 75 (scientific) publications and delivered numerous presentations, which can be found on Pure and ResearchGate. He is also a reviewer for various scientific journals (including Preventive Medicine and Sports Medicine) and funding programmes such as Regieorgaan SIA, the Dutch Heart Foundation, and ZonMw.

Finally, he was the winner of the European Health Promotion Award (2000) and the Preffi Prize (1999) for the best implementation project of a community-based sport and exercise programme for older adults in Europe and the Netherlands.