The EMERSON-UIC Symposium on Sports, Health & Communication took place at the Bill Bordy Theater in Boston, MA, on January 14, 2025. Over sixty participants, including graduate students from the Sports, Health, and Communication program at Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC) , students and faculty members from Emerson College, gathered to explore the intersections of sports, health, and communication, highlighting their global implications for well-being.
The event began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Jay Bernhardt, President of Emerson College, and Dr. HUANG Yu, Associate Vice President of UIC. Dr. Bernhardt introduced Emerson College, a nonprofit institution renowned for its academic programs in communication, the arts, and liberal arts, serving as a hub for independent thinkers from diverse backgrounds. Dr. HUANG Yu expressed gratitude for Emerson College’s exceptional hospitality and noted that UIC students had greatly benefitted from the study tour, deepening their understanding of American culture and engaging in enriching academic exchanges. He emphasized that the symposium’s theme—sports, health, and communication—offers unique opportunities to address global health challenges and promote transformative solutions. He also invited Emerson students and faculty to visit UIC in China to continue fostering these international academic dialogues.
Keynote Speeches: Intersections of Sports, Health & Communication
Dr. Brent Smith, Dean of the School of Communication at Emerson College, discussed the connections between sports, human health, and society. He encouraged students to think critically about how sports can play a pivotal role in addressing global health issues. “Sports are not just games, they are platforms to inspire social change.”he said. Pro. SHI Lei, Programme Director of UIC, focused on technological responses to active health, explaining how technology is revolutionizing health management. He shared collaborative projects between UIC and Hong Kong Baptist University, highlighting how technological innovations are shaping the future of health management.
Pro. SHI Lei’ Keynote Speech
Scholar Dialogue: AI & the Future of Sports Communication
Moderated by Dr. Brent Smith, the Scholar Dialogue explored artificial intelligence (AI) in sports, health, and cross-cultural communication. Panelists Dr. HUANG Yu, Pro. SHI Lei, and Dr. Lauren Anderson, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Emerson College, discussed AI’s transformative potential in global health management and industry. They also addressed the ethical challenges of AI, such as data privacy and ensuring equitable access to technology.
Q&A Session
During the Q&A session, students actively engaged with professors on topics like how sports communication can promote global health management and how technology drives innovation in health. The discussion was lively, reflecting the students’ enthusiasm for these pressing issues.
Roundtable Discussion
The symposium concluded with a roundtable discussion where students from both institutions shared real-life cases from their respective countries. Topics ranged from how school sports curricula shape health awareness to the innovative use of wearable devices in health management. These discussions fostered cross-cultural understanding.
Closing Remarks
Dr. Anthony Pinder, Vice Provost of Emerson College, praised the symposium for promoting cross-cultural academic exchange and expressed his anticipation for future collaborations between UIC and Emerson College. The event ended with a group photo and a luncheon exchange session, where participants continued discussions in an informal setting, strengthening academic ties between the two institutions.
Group Photo
Author: ZHENG Yaxi
