Personal information
Biography
Professor Morgan is Deputy-Director of the University of Newcastle Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition and lecturer in the School of Education. He graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Education (Health and Physical Education) in 1997. He completed his PhD in 2003 which focused on primary school physical education and won both local and national awards. His research program is focused on the impact of school- and community- based interventions to prevent or treat obesity in child, adolescent and adult populations. As a chief investigator he has secured grants of over $11 million from: NH&MRC, ARC Discovery, ARC Linkage, Heart Foundation, NSW Health and Industry community grants. He has developed and led a number of major projects targeting men and fathers including the Workplace POWER and SHED-IT Men's weight loss programs; the national and international award winning Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids program; and Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered (DADEE) program. His work in teaching research and the community has been recognised with national and international awards including 13 university teaching excellence awards (4 national) and 21 national/international research awards which highlight his career focus on the teaching/research nexus. Professor Morgan also has delivered numerous invited local, state and national presentations related to both his research and teaching.
Research Expertise:
Targeted community-based interventions to increase physical activity and prevent/treat obesity in child, adolescent and adult populations. School-based interventions to promote physical activity and healthy eating. Obesity in men. Engaging fathers to promote physical activity, healthy eating and social-emotional well-being to their children. Parenting practices relating to physical activity, healthy eating and social-emotional well-being. Physical education in primary schools. Engaging girls in physical activity. Teaching of fundamental movement skills.