Our research
PRISM is an independent research hub made up of scholars who bring different lenses to the study of race, identity, sports, and media. Rooted in collaboration and critical inquiry, we investigate the ways these areas overlap and shape each other in everyday life. Our members carry out rigorous research, lead educational efforts, and build bridges between academia and society.
Our identity
PRISM’s mission is to explore the intersections of race, identity, sport, and media through rigorous, socially engaged research and education. What makes PRISM unique is the depth and diversity of perspectives we bring a prism of viewpoints that reflect the rich, often complex realities of the world we study
Meet the Team
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Prof. Dr. Jacco van Sterkenburg
Prof. Dr. Jacco van Sterkenburg is Associate Professor and Endowed Chair of ‘Race, Inclusion and Communication’ at Erasmus University Rotterdam. With over 25 years of research experience, he explores race, football, media, and belonging, bridging academic insights with policy and partnerships across sport and society.
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Dr. Arne van Lienden
Dr. Arne van Lienden is a postdoctoral researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam and Radboud University Nijmegen. His work explores inclusion and exclusion in sport and sport media, with a focus on race, gender, and representation across Europe. He combines media analysis, interviews, and fieldwork to uncover the structural dynamics shaping these issues.
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Rens Cremers, MSc
Rens Cremers is an external PhD candidate researching racism and discrimination in football. As an interdisciplinary social scientist, his work focuses on how social inequality plays out in and through sport. He is a researcher at the Mulier Institute, investigating issues of inclusion, exclusion, and social safety related to ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity within sports cultures.
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Carmen Longas Luque, MSc
Carmen Longas Luque is a PhD candidate at the Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication & Culture. Her research explores how discourses of race and ethnicity shape televised football production, content, and audience reception. She draws from psychology and communication to study media, representation, and social attitudes.
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Lis Carmelia, MA
Lis Camelia is a PhD candidate at the department of Media and communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam. She has a background in media studies. She currently explores the role of sport narratives in the negotiations of belonging within diverse (Dutch) cities. Particularly through the lens of locality, diverse cities and post-colonial theory.
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Palesa Mashigo, MA
Palesa Mashigo is a PhD researcher and lecturer at Erasmus University’s Media and Communication Department. With a background in journalism, her research focuses on race, racism, and inclusion in professional European football. Her work connects empirical research with institutional and policy-level analysis, aiming to uncover how exclusionary practices are maintained in football cultures.
