Dr Rachel Sandford is a senior lecturer in young people and sport in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. She also leads the undergraduate sport science, coaching and physical education programme, as well as teaching modules related to critical pedagogy and the sociology of physical education. Rachel’s research centres on young people’s attitudes towards, experiences of and development in/through sport and physical activity. She has a particular interest in issues around popular culture, embodied identity and positive youth development, with recent work focussed on care-experienced youth via the British Academy-funded ‘Right to be Active’ project. Rachel has published widely in refereed journals and books in the areas of sociology, physical education and health and has given invited presentations of her work to international audiences. Rachel is also the link convenor for the sport pedagogy network of the European Educational Research Association.