My name is Kane Cocker and I am a PhD student at the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago New Zealand. I am supervised by Prof. Chris Button (IDRA member), Prof. Jim Cotter, Dr Tina van Duijn and Dr Luke Wilson. My current primary research interest is in the initial responses, both behavioural and physiological to immersion and how that can influence drowning risk.

As an early career researcher I am looking to establish connections in the drowning research space. IDRA as an organisation to join was suggested to Prof. Cotter by Prof. Mike Tipton as a research group focussed of drowning prevention and having looked into your website I believe it would be beneficial to me as a way to learn from world-leading experts in the field. As an early career researcher I will mainly be learning from the group at least to begin with, but as I develop I am happy to assist with other research projects and paying back what I gain in the future when appropriate. In terms of research output relating to drowning I have been accepted to present at the 2023 WCDP and have also co-authored three papers with my supervisors. In addition to these publications I have a primary author publication under preparation that I aim to submit later in the year. My personal motivation to conduct drowning prevention related research stems from a long held association with water safety having been a surf lifeguard since January 2015 and a passion for preventing drowning.

o Button, C., van Duijn, T., Cocker, K., Trotter-Dunn, G., and Seifert, L. (accepted, not yet published). Does a combined swimming pool and open water education programme for children develop adaptable water safety competencies. Journal of Sport and Exercise Sciences
o van Duijn, T., Cocker, K., Seifert, L., & Button, C. (2022). Assessment of water safety competencies: Benefits and caveats of testing in open water. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.982480
o van Duijn, T., Ng, J. L., Burnay, C., Anderson, N., Uehara, L., Cocker, K., & Button, C. (2021). The Influence of Equipment and Environment on Children and Young Adults Learning Aquatic Skills. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.733489

Presentations
– 2 Oral presentations one at WCDP 2023 and WCDP 2025
– Co-author on a number of presentations by Tina van Duijn and Chris Button

Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kane_cocker,
linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kane-cocker-320524214, ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7539-3975, Researchgate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kane-Cocker LOOP https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1390996