Conversations about cold water swimming

Facts and fantasies surrounding cold water immersion
Cold Water Swimming Symposium

Conversations about cold water swimming

Facts and fantasies surrounding cold water immersion
Heather Hopper

  • Rolle Plaza Marquee, Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, UK, PL4 8AA

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Join us at the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ on Saturday 10th October, 9:30am–3:30pm, for a day of dynamic conversations about cold water wwimming open to all members of the public, academics and researchers alike.
This unique event dives beneath the surface to explore the facts and expose the fantasies surrounding cold water immersion. 
Hear from leading experts in physiology, psychology, medicine, and research as they unpack the latest understanding of cold water’s psychological benefits, physical effects and implications, including the impact it has on people during different phases of life. 
The programme includes short talks, panel discussions, and interactive Q&A sessions, offering an engaging and evidence based look at everything from emerging research findings to essential safety considerations. 
Whether you're an experienced dipper or simply curious, come along to learn, question, and connect with a growing community of cold water enthusiasts.
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Registration

Booking will open towards the end of May.
Please register your interest to attend through the link below and we will contact you when booking is open. The fee to attend will be approximately £25 tbc, and will include lunch and refreshments.

Sponsorship opportunities

To reduce costs and to make the event accessible to all, we have opportunities for corporate sponsorship for this educational and informative event.
For £200, each sponsor can have a stand at the conference maximising exposure your organisation within the cold water swimming community. We can provide trestle tables, power, wifi and screens, your logo will be included on any promotional materials, and you would be able to sell your goods and services on the day.
Please contact events@plymouth.ac.uk  for further information.
Cold Water Swimming

Conference venue

The conference will take place in Rolle Plaza Marquee (pictured below) which is located on the main Â鶹Æƽâ°æ campus and in close proximity to the city centre and Â鶹Æƽâ°æ train station.

Accommodation

Â鶹Æƽâ°æ offers a diverse range of accommodation options to suit every lifestyle and budget, check the Visit Â鶹Æƽâ°æ website for further details.

Travel to Â鶹Æƽâ°æ

Further travel to Â鶹Æƽâ°æ information can be found on the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ website. We're right at the heart of Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, just across the street from the city's extensive shopping district and surrounded by great culture, heritage and entertainment. 

Parking

Please note there is no parking on campus. A list of car parks operated by Â鶹Æƽâ°æ City Council can be found on their website.
Venue: Rolle Plaza Marquee, Â鶹Æƽâ°æ
Rolle Plaza Marquee
Getting here: Travel to Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Information
Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Hoe

Draft Conference Programme

Rolle Plaza Marquee, Â鶹Æƽâ°æ
10 October 2026
09.30 - 10.00 | Registration and Networking
10.00 - 10.15 | Welcome
10.15 - 10.35 | Facts and Fantasies of Cold-Water Immersion - Mike Tipton
10.35 - 11.35 | Why We Swim Session
10.35 - 10.50 | Outdoor Swimming, a Naturally Disrupting and Reconnecting Experience - Hannah Denton
10.50 - 11.05 | Cold Water to Calm Minds: Old Stories to New Science - Heather Massey 
11.05 - 11.20 | Chills and Changes: Cold Water Swimming for Menstrual and Menopausal Health - Joyce Harper
11.20 - 11.35 | Ice, Ice Baby: Pregnancy and Cold‑Water Swimming - Jill Shawe
11.35 - 12.00 | Comfort break including refreshments
12.00 - 12.30 | Facilitated Panel Discussion (based on audience questions)
12.30 - 13.00 | Networking & Lunch
14.00 - 14.15 | Kill or Cure: The Effects of Cold-Water Immersion and its Implications - Mark Harper
14.15 - 15.00 | Facilitated Panel Session: Think Safety - Mark Harper, Mike Tipton, Ade Mayhew, Sarah Jones
15.00 - 15.15 | Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: Harnessing Heat (Sauna) for Health Benefit - Ant Shepherd
15.15 - 15.30 | Final Remarks and Close
We have some brilliant keynote speakers on the programme, please look through their biographies below. 
We look forward to meeting you on the day.

Keynote Speaker Biographies (scroll down for full text)

Dr. Ant Shepherd
Dr. Ant Shepherd
Dr. Heather Massey
Dr. Heather Massey
Prof. Jill Shawe
Prof. Jill Shawe
Prof. Joyce Harper
Prof. Joyce Harper
Dr. Mark Harper
Dr. Mark Harper
Prof. Mike Tipton
Prof. Mike Tipton

Dr. Ant Shepherd, Associate Professor in Clinical Exercise Physiology, University of Portsmouth
Ant Shepherd is an Associate Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Portsmouth, where he helps lead research in the Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing and heads the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Research Team.
His work focuses on finding practical ways to improve metabolic and cardiovascular health, physical function, and overall quality of life for people living with, or at risk of, long‑term health conditions. Ant’s research often explores innovative approaches such as tailored nutrition, passive heating, and controlled exposure to unusual or challenging environments, with the aim of turning cutting‑edge science into real‑world health benefits.
A key part of his work is understanding the underlying physiology of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic conditions. By uncovering how these illnesses develop and how the body adapts, he aims to identify new strategies that can be used in both clinical care and community health programmes.
Ant’s research bridges laboratory science and everyday wellbeing, helping to shape new interventions that are practical, accessible, and grounded in strong scientific evidence.

Dr. Heather Massey, Associate Professor within the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Portsmouth
Heather is an Associate Professor within the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences. She has been a member of the Extreme Environments Laboratory since 2007 where she completed a PhD in the area of Environmental Cross-adaptation in Humans. Prior to that she worked at the Institute of Naval Medicine within the Environmental Medicine Unit for six years.  
Heather’s research interests are in the area of water safety and the potential therapeutic use of cold water immersion. Where she is currently completing the first clinical trial to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of cold water swimming with people experiencing symptoms of depression. She is also trustee of .
In her spare time Heather is a keen open water swimmer having successfully completed a solo crossing and six relay crossings of the English Channel, numerous other open water swims including relay swims from Dover to Brighton, round Jersey, Jersey to France, round the Isle of Wight as well as representing the UK in the World Ice Swimming Championships 1k event in 2017. Last year she had a year off long distance swimming and completed two channel relays and a Beachy head 10 K swim for fun! 

Prof. Jill Shawe, Professor of Maternal and Family Healthcare, Â鶹Æƽâ°æ
Jill Shawe is a clinical academic nurse/midwife and Professor of Maternal and Family Healthcare at the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ.  Jill has extensive clinical experience in women’s health, alongside a strong background in maternal health research and education. Jill was a founding member of the SWIMHER network, created after she was asked whether cold water swimming is safe during pregnancy — a question that sparked an ongoing search for evidence‑based answers.

Prof. Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at University College London, Institute for Women’s Health
Joyce Harper is an internationally renowned, award-winning educator, author, podcaster, academic, public speaker, fertility and women’s health coach and scientist. She is Professor of Reproductive Science at University College London, Institute for Women’s Health. 
Joyce is passionate about empowering women to live their best lives through good health and happiness. She has written two books: Your Fertile Years: What you need to know to make informed choices and Your Joyful Years: Empowering good health and happiness beyond 50. Her podcast, Why didn’t anyone tell me this? is listened to in over 90 countries and is in season 4.
She regularly appears in the UK press, radio and TV.

Dr Mark Harper MBBS FRCA PhD, Consultant Anaesthetist
Mark is a consultant anaesthetist who divides his clinical work between Brighton and Kristiansand. His early research focused on keeping patients warm during surgery to reduce complications, work that went on to shape national and international guidelines.
After moving to Brighton in 2003, he began swimming in the sea year‑round. While completing his PhD, he linked his clinical research with the physiology of cold‑water adaptation, exploring how outdoor swimming might help improve surgical outcomes. His personal experience and emerging scientific evidence later led him to propose cold water swimming as a potential intervention for mental health.
Working with Dr Chris van Tulleken and the Extreme Environments Lab, he tested these ideas on the BAFTA‑nominated BBC programme The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs. He then led the first clinical trial using sea swimming for anxiety and depression and is a co‑applicant on the fully‑recruited Outside 2 study, the first RCT in the field. He also helped establish Chill UK and served as a director of Mental Health Swims.
Mark has appeared widely in the media and has spoken at both the Scottish Parliament and in Westminster. His book, Chill – the cold water swim cure, was published in 2022.

Prof Mike Tipton MBE, FRSM, FTPS, Human & Applied Physiologist from the Extreme Environments Laboratory, University of Portsmouth
Professor Tipton is a human & applied physiologist from the Extreme Environments Laboratory, University of Portsmouth. He publishes in the areas of drowning prevention, survival in the sea, thermoregulation, environmental and occupational physiology. 
Prof Tipton is President of The Physiological Society and Chair of the National Water Safety Forum and Water Safety England. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and The Physiological Society. 
His awards include an MBE for services to physiological research in extreme environments and the Ireland Medal for saving lives from drowning worldwide. 
Prof Tipton’s sporting pastimes include triathlon.
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