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This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2026.

In this special live edition of New Scientist’s award-winning podcast, host Rowan Hooper is joined by very special guests to delve into the question of how advances in medicine, data and sports science are giving modern football teams a cutting edge on their rivals and might prove the difference between lifting this summer’s World Cup and collecting a runner up medal.

Joining Rowan are a panel of expert guests including:

• – Associate Professor, Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University, and Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. Lead author of
• – Founder of sports advisory business Ludonautics, Director of Research at Liverpool FC from 2012 - 2023, and author of
• – Chief Medical Officer, British Olympic Association, and previously CMO for the FA from 2016 – 2026, overseeing medical teams accompanying senior men’s and women’s teams at tournaments including World Cups and European Championships

Together they’ll explore how performance science can give players that extra 1% and how the use of AI is revolutionising everything from injury management to football tactics. There’ll even be a chance for you to put your own questions to the expert panel.

Attending the event

This event will be held in Theatre 1 at the Royal Society on Tuesday 30 June 2026, 6.45pm – 8pm.

• This event is for 18+ only
• Free to attend as part of Summer Science Exhibition on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to seat availability. We recommend that visitors arrive 10-15 minutes before the session
• Eventbrite tickets for Summer Science Exhibition are recommended, with only a limited number of walk-up tickets released on the day
• This talk will take place in person
• This talk will be released on YouTube at a later date by the
• Live subtitles will be available
• Travel and accessibility information and details on planning your visit - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
• Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café

For all enquiries, please email us.