Ruth Lowry is a Chartered Health and Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a registered Practising Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).  She has specific interest in health behaviour change for psychological wellbeing, social connectedness, physical and cognitive health.  Ruth’s work has focused on the benefits of sport, exercise and active living, particularly for older adults, sedentary workers and the neurodiverse.  Previous EU funded projects have involved co-designing and evaluating gender sensitive community projects (Community Men’s Sheds), age sensitive sexual health service model for older adults (https://shift-sexual-health.eu/).  Ruth is part of the Clem Burke Drumming Project (https://clemburkedrummingproject.org/), a group of researchers examining the benefits of learning to play rock drums.  Ruth has examined the social, psychological and cognitive benefits for neurodiverse children and adolescents.  Her work in exercise and physical activity has explored how active living can enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers.  Currently, Ruth is working on an EC Horizon 2020 funded project. CITY-MOVE (https://citymove.info/) investigates the impact of active and healthier urban interventions on health inequalities in 6 Cities across 3 continents by implementing and adapt the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA). Other current projects explore the link between mental health and movement and adaptation of drumming for clinical populations.

Ruth completed her PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology at QUB in 2002. Ruth worked as a Teaching Fellow at QUB from 2002 to 2004 teaching research methods and analysis.  Ruth worked in several UK universities (Strathclyde, 2004-2008; Chichester 2008-2019; and Essex 2019-2024) before moving to the Ulster University in 2024.

2024 – 2028 CITY-MOVE How to implement and evaluate an integrated package of active movement interventions in different city contexts. University of Anwerpn (van Olmen, PI), Erasmus University Rotterdam (van Exel), Ulster University / University of Essex (Lowry), Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (Marquies), Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas, Bogotá (Correa Senior), Makerere University (Ndjjeo), Zdravstveni dom Ljubljana (Community Health Centre Ljubljana (Klemenc-Ketis)), the City of Antwerp; and Walk 21 Foundation (Walker). EC Horizon and UK Innovate: (~€4 million Horizon; £279,045.84, Innovate UK)

2024 Mind in Motion: Balance and movement as a biomarker for anxiety and depression. Birn-Jeffery, A. (PI), Taylor, M., Hope, E., Lowry, R. MQ Transforming Mental Health (£46,409)

2024 Lowry, R. Good Company Evaluation of Arts based Day care for community dwelling people living with dementia and their carers. Brentwood County Council and Arts Council (£10,000).

2023 Drumming for Health Summer of Science Exhibition funding for exhibitor. Lowry, R. Royal Society & ESRC Impact Fund (£17, 440).

2019 - 2022 Sexual Health in the over ForTy Fives: SHIFT (Technological and social innovation, Interreg 2 Seas Monitoring Committee, EU – €4.1 million; Evaluation €538,078.30).  Evaluation Partner, Led Partner, Health Europe Centre.

2017 - 2022 Step by Step – SBS (Technological and social innovation, Interreg 2 Seas Monitoring Committee, EU – €4.3 million; Evaluation €544,512.25). Evaluation Partner, Led Partner, Health Europe Centre.

2013 - 2019 Can Drumming Improve Brain Function in Autism? – Parts 1 & 2. Williams, S. (Kings College London), Smith, M. (University of Chichester), Draper, S. (Hartpury University), Lowry, R. Waterloo Foundation (£158,000).

Health Psychology

Sport and Exercise Psychology