CQUniversity researcher Dr Mitch Duncan has been named Best New Investigator at the 2008 ASICS Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport.

Dr Duncan's paper on physical activity in Queensland and its relationship with geographic location and perceptions of the environment won the award in the Health Promotion category at the Conference hosted by Sports Medicine Australia.

Dr Mitch DuncanAlong with peer recognition, Dr Duncan received a trophy and $2000 from ASICS to support future research endeavours.

His research study examined how physical activity and perceptions of the built environment differ by degree of urbanisation in Queensland.

He found that metropolitan residents were more likely to report the presence of shops and services, footpaths, heavy traffic and physical activity facilities than non-metropolitan residents.

Although geographic location was not associated with achievement of sufficient levels of physical activity or walking, there was an association between the presence of footpaths and physical activity in metropolitan areas, however not in non-metropolitan areas.

Dr Duncan said the presence of footpaths is probably more strongly related to physical activity in metropolitan areas as footpaths provide a location separate from traffic and other impediments that are not as prolific in non-metropolitan areas.

Dr Duncan is a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow with CQUniversity's Healthy Communities Research Initiative.

A copy of Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Mitch Duncan's paper Geographic location, physical activity and perceptions of the environment in Queensland adults is available on request.