Professor Jim Richards is a truly international ambassador for motion analysis and allied health work, being a visiting professor at several institutions in Europe and South-East Asia. On a personal level, those working with him appreciate how he always remains humble and honest, with the main goal of supporting and advancing younger faculty around him.
“I feel extremely honored to receive the Motion Capture Ambassador Award, I have very fond memories of Mats Kanarbik who we sadly lost too soon. I have had the pleasure of using Qualisys systems since 1995 and have seen so many developments over this time, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Qualisys for their significant contribution to human and animal movement sciences, and all their help with my own work over the years.“
Professor Jim Richards has been holding the position of Professor of Biomechanics and Research Lead for the Allied Health Research Unit at the University of Central Lancashire since 2004. He is internationally recognized for his significant contributions to biomechanics and clinical motion analysis.
His research across gait analysis, prosthetics, and motor control has helped establish best practices for translating motion capture from research to clinical use and resulted in more than 160 peer-reviewed journal publications and over 4,000 citations.
Professor Richards has made a profound and lasting impact on the scientific community. His contributions have been widely recognized, earning him numerous awards and distinctions throughout his career.
As a respected educator and co-author of The Comprehensive Textbook of Clinical Biomechanics, he has played a pivotal role in bridging academic research and clinical practice, shaping both current standards and future generations of researchers and clinicians.
Professor Richards’ drive to advance clinical biomechanics through Motion Capture, combined with his commitment to sharing best practices and fostering networks, make him a highly deserving recipient of this award.
The nomination period for the 2027 Award has started.
Promote a person who makes a good ambassador for the motion capture industry and technology.
All nominations shall be submitted before January 31 2027
To nominate a person who fulfills the criteria, please submit this form.
– The person is driving, energetic, and responsible for contact building and networking.
– The person is taking the lead in relationship-promoting and knowledge-sharing activities, recurring contacts, and linking stakeholders with each other.
– The person is active within the Motion Capture network.
To honor Mats Kanarbik and continue the mission he was so dedicated to, Qualisys has established the Qualisys Motion Capture Ambassador Award – in memory of Mats Kanarbik, which will be annually granted to a candidate exhibiting outstanding leadership in the networking and expansion of motion capture values. Anyone can nominate a friend, colleague, or competitor in the world of motion capture, working in that spirit.
The award constitutes 10 000 SEK, a Certificate of Achievement, and a small Swedish glass art piece.
See the previous recipients here