Saulo Neves de Oliveira

Saulo Neves de Oliveira serves as an Assistant Professor at Ambrose University, specializing in Education with a focus on sociocultural dimensions of aging and leisure. He employs the Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP) as a core theoretical framework and actively bridges academic research with community engagement through documentary projects.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Education (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and University of Calgary)
• M.Ed. (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul)
• B.Ed. in Physical Education (UNISINOS)

Dr. Oliveira's research centers on leisure's role in aging populations, community identity, and personal fulfillment, deeply influenced by Paulo Freire's educational philosophy. His work examines how structured leisure pursuits foster social integration among older adults, particularly through Brazilian cultural contexts. He actively translates academic knowledge into public-facing formats, exemplified by his TELUS-funded documentary My Serious Life which profiles community members' leisure activities. His contributions to the PATH research group's Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) extend his expertise into physical activity assessment.

His publication history reveals consistent scholarly development in leisure studies, with thematic emphasis on aging transitions, retirement, and cross-cultural applications of SLP. Recent works increasingly integrate religious scholarship, exploring connections between leisure, work, and Christian theology through collaborations with Heintzman and Maciel.

Dr. Oliveira has secured external funding from TELUS (StoryHIVE Voices) for community-focused documentary projects and actively contributes to the PATH research group's international physical activity measurement initiatives.

He collaborates with the PATH research group (Physical Activity, Transportation and Health) and engages in community-based projects that document local cultural narratives through leisure practices, emphasizing authentic representation and community values.