Jorge Knijnik

Jorge Knijnik is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Director Research in the School of Education and a member of the Institute for Culture & Society at Western Sydney University (NSW, Australia). Jorge’s overarching research interests focus on topics of social justice, gender, multiculturalism and human rights and social inclusion. Jorge has three established areas of significant achievements in research, teaching and community involvement which address those issues: sport in society, gender education and Physical Education. As a social and education worker, Jorge spent considerable time in the slums of his home country (Brazil) where there are extensive and systematic human rights violations – including serious child abuse – introducing systematic initiatives to improve sanitation, minimize health problems (including sexuality programs), and promote accessible sport and exercise programs as alternatives to self-destructive or socially dysfunctional behaviors. His community and pedagogical work has been acknowledged by two major prizes: the Building the Gender Equality awarded by the Brazilian Research Council and UN-WOMEN, and a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, presented by the Ministry of Education (Australia). He has recently published 'The World Cup Chronicles :31 Days that Rocked Brazil'