François Gravelle began his career at uOttawa in 1991. This key period shaped both his professional journey and his way of looking at physical activity and recreation as fields of study and areas for action. At the outset, he was interested in the psychosocial aspects of recreation, especially among older adults and Franco-Ontarians.
Over time, however, he has expanded his research interests. In the 2000s, he began exploring the phenomenon of academic success and the evolution of personal identities among university athletes, with the goal of understanding how challenges in sports and academics contribute to self-construction.
In recent years, his research has focused on factors that help people to maintain an active lifestyle. He studies the trajectories of people involved in physical activity, whether recreational or competitive, to better understand what promotes long-term participation and well-being. He also shares his expertise in the department of leisure, culture and tourism studies at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières through a joint appointment. Alongside this work, he serves on the editorial board of the journal Society and Leisure.
Professor Gravelle is accepting new students for thesis supervision.