Costas Karageorghis

Costas Karageorghis is a professor of sport and exercise psychology at Brunel University London. From 2018-21, he served as Divisional Lead for Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. From 2009-14, he served as Deputy Head (Research) of the former School of Sport and Education and led preparations for two REF2014 subject submissions (Sports-Related and Education). Costas has established an international reputation for his research into the psychological, psychophysiological and neurophysiological effects of music. He has captured 26 research grants during his academic career including, most recently, an ESRC project grant (2018-21).

Costas is the author of two textbooks, 15 book chapters, 110 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 100 professional papers in sport and exercise psychology. He has made more than 100 conference presentations and given numerous invited presentations at national and international conferences, including 14 keynote lectures. Costas has also delivered six public lectures in recent years.

Costas’s music research has been featured in newspapers around the world; most recently in the Times, Independent, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Sydney Morning Herald. In both 2011 and 2016 he was the recipient of the Sportesse Award for Sport and Exercise Sciences at the annual conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). The awards were for new theoretical and mechanistic work in the area of music and physical activity. He is currently working on multi-modal stimulation during physical activity that entails the use of music, video images, virtual reality and visual primes. Such work is oriented towards enhancing people's sensory experiences during physical activity, with a view to increasing exercise adherence and promoting public health.

Costas is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society and a double-accredited member of BASES (psychology research and scientific support). In September 2010 he was elected a Fellow of BASES for his services to sport and exercise sciences in the UK. In September 2013 he was awarded Chartered Scientist status by the Science Council. Costas acts as consultant psychologist to a number of international and professional athletes and has worked with a wide variety of UK governing bodies of sport (e.g. British Athletics, British Canoe Union, British Water Ski Federation and England Hockey). He has also worked with many multinational companies in the sports world and music industry.

From 2007-11 Costas was head coach of the Great Britain Students athletics team. He has also managed and coached the Brunel University London Athletics Team since the early 90s. During this time, the team have won seven British Universities championships. Most recently, the team finished runners-up to Loughborough University at the 2017 and 2018 British Universities indoor championships. In 2004 he was made Honorary Life President of Brunel University London Athletics Club and, in 2008, Vice-President of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletics Club.