Dr. NiCole Keith explores research, education and economic development opportunities in Kenya
In August, 2008, Dr. NiCole Keith was part of an IUPUI delegation that traveled to several Moi University campuses in Kenya. She examined many opportunities for education and science that PETM faculty and students can pursue in order to learn from and grow with our colleagues from Moi University. Prospective areas for research, education, and economic development were explored and are described below.
Exercise Science – El Doret, Kenya is home to the highest percentage of gold medal Olympic distance runners in the world. The area also produces a large number of collegiate and professional runners who leave El Doret to compete internationally. Kenyan Olympians such as Lorna Kiplogat, Kip Kano, and others have invested their earnings to build high altitude training facilities where Kenyan runners with promising futures prepare for competition.
What makes these athletes so successful? Speculation suggests their performance advantage comes from genetics; biomechanics; or from the environment as the runners live and train at altitude. According to the Moi University scientists, there is currently no field or lab research being performed on Kenyan runners in their region and they are anxious to partner with IU scientists to explore research related to these issues.
Sports Management, Sports Medicine and Public Health – The Riley Mother and Baby Hospital in Kenya is scheduled to open soon. This project (completed through the IU School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children and Moi University partnership) will be the site of approximately 10,000 deliveries per year. The Sports Centre El Doret, an idea proposed by several community and hospital members, would house sports medicine and athletic training facilities and could have a tremendous community and public health impact. Currently there are no facilities to treat runners and other athletes (the most successful leave the area for treatment) and there are no public facilities in El Doret where Kenyans can exercise. The community already has a well-developed plan and is looking for partners to bring ideas and support to a project that could expand the medical and university campuses in a way similar to the Riley Hospital project.
Physical Education- Kenya has not avoided the practice of eliminating physical education class for core academic courses. This complaint was frequently shared as we traveled around Kenya. Most Kenyans walk several miles per day for transportation. However, the very affluent drive; thus the incidence of hypokinetic diseases are appearing in this popul ation. Educators and medical providers fear that with the elimination of physical education, the message that physical activity is important for health will not be learned. Many educators also shared their belief that elimination ofphysical education classes has led to increased aggression among their educated youth.
Tourism - While visiting the many Moi University campuses, Tourism was obviously an industry ripe for development. The delegation saw Kenya’s lush and diverse terrain. The nation’s beauty makes it a perfect travel destination for individuals interested in ecotourism, safaris, or training where the Kenyan runners train.
Kenyan’s are the most gracious and hospitable people Dr. Keith feels she’s encountered and says we all have much to learn from them. The School of Physical Education and Tourism Management (PETM) offers varied academic and research agendas for students and faculty with several intellectual foci. Similarly Kenya presents many different opportunities that create conditions ripe for PETM faculty and students to explore for research and programming with our Moi University colleagues.
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In August, 2008, Dr. NiCole Keith was part of an IUPUI delegation that traveled to several 
Exercise Science – El Doret, Kenya is home to the highest percentage of gold medal Olympic distance runners in the world. The area also produces a large number of collegiate and professional runners who leave El Doret to compete internationally. Kenyan Olympians such as Lorna Kiplogat, Kip Kano, and others have invested their earnings to build 
Tourism - While visiting the many Moi University campuses, Tourism was obviously an industry ripe for development. The delegation saw Kenya’s lush and diverse terrain. The nation’s beauty makes it a perfect travel destination for individuals interested in ecotourism, safaris, or training where the Kenyan runners train. 
Kenyan’s are the most gracious and hospitable people Dr. Keith feels she’s encountered and says we all have much to learn from them. The School of Physical Education and Tourism Management (PETM) offers varied academic and research agendas for students and faculty with several intellectual foci. Similarly Kenya presents many different opportunities that create conditions ripe for PETM faculty and students to explore for research and programming with our Moi University colleagues.
