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Dr. Valerie Carson is a Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the three main areas related to physical activity and sedentary behaviour among young people (birth to 17 years). These areas include understanding the links with health, establishing measurement methods, and identifying factors that influence the behaviours in home, school/childcare, and neighbourhood settings. She is particularly interested in children of the early years (<5 years old), including social-emotional and cognitive development, parental influences, and child care influences. Dr. Carson co-led projects that developed Canada’s first 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years (0-4 years) and school-aged children and youth (5-17 years). She is currently the Primary Investigator of several studies in the area of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in young people (see current research projects).
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New Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines
The Behavioural Epidemiology Lab is now housed in the newly renovated University Hall. The lab provides opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students at the Masters and Doctoral level, and Postdoctoral Fellows to develop expertise in the area of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children. Internal funding is available and students are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding through agencies such as Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS), and Womens' and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI).