Professor Wallace works on RSPH video project

Professor Carol Wallace is currently working with the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) on a series of videos discussing food safety culture with some of the industry's leading experts.

She recently interviewed Lone Jespersen, Head of Food Safety Strategy at Maple Leaf Foods, and will soon be speaking with Professors Chris Griffith and Lisa Ackerley as part of the project.

Professor Wallace has also been invited to The Buckingham Palace Garden Party in recognition of her ongoing work with the RSPH.

UCLan SENS Lecturer presents at showpiece food studies event

A UCLan SENS Lecturer recently took part in a prestigious food studies event in Finland.

Dr Brigit Ramsingh travelled to the University of Helsinki to deliver a research presentation at an international interdisciplinary conference entitled: 'Food in Society and Culture – Research across the Social Sciences and the Humanities'.

The symposium aimed to develop new analytical approaches to the study of food in the Humanities, Economics and the Social Sciences by looking at issues of food production, consumption, and food cultures in contemporary society.

Dr Ramsingh's paper - 'Society's Kidneys: Food waste, freegans and the use of metaphor to define alternative food networks' - formed part of a session investigating sustainability, alternative movements and food waste.

The event featured leading experts from a variety of disciplines including Alan Warde, Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester, and Johanna Mäkelä, Professor of Food Culture at the University of Helsinki.

Dr Ramsingh commented: "The conference was fantastically well organised, with interesting and provocative sessions that continued long after the scheduled program had ended.

"It was one of the most talkative meetings I've been to, and I met many new colleagues and friends from across Europe with whom I will keep in touch in order to develop some collaborative research plans."

For more information about the event please click here.

Sports Science student chases football dream

When a UCLan SENS student took to the football pitch in Cyprus for his weekly match, little did he know a spectator visiting on an educational trip would soon make his dreams come true.

Football mad Sergios Avraam was playing for UCLan's Cyprus team when he came to the attention of Preston North End Football Club's Deputy Chairman David Taylor, who is also Chairman of UCLan.

David spotted the striker's talents during a trip to our Pyla campus and invited him to train with the League One club.

Sergios, who is studying the first year of a Sports Science degree, has travelled to Lancashire to train at UCLan Sports Arena with the PNE Academy Team (U18s).

He said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it could be the one chance I need to change my life. To be able to play football professionally is a dream come true, so I hope I impress the coaches. I’m so thankful to David, Preston North End and UCLan for making this happen."

As well as playing for the university, the 22-year-old also stars for Cypriot Second Division team Elpida Xylophagou.

"Playing in England is very different to Cyprus," said Sergios. "The pace is so fast compared with the European style of play. Technically I feel I’ve done okay and I feel I've been strong enough up against other players, but I know my stamina needs to improve. Playing 90 minutes at a fast pace is physically very tough, but with more training I know I'll be able to perform.

"It's been very interesting and challenging so far, but it's definitely been enjoyable. The coaches and players have been very friendly and encouraging so I couldn't have asked for more."

Between his training sessions and daily gym session Sergios, who is away from home for the first time, has been taking in the local sights.

"Preston is a very good city," he said. "I've enjoyed running by the river in the beautiful park, walking around the Docks and spending time in the city in the sunshine. The football stadium is amazing and the training facilities at the Sports Arena are outstanding."

His UCLan coach Miodrag Stijovic met David in Cyprus and pointed Sergios out as the star player. Miodrag, who has travelled over for a week to watch him in training, said: "I'm very, very proud of him. He's a very special player with fantastic ability. All he needs to do is to train hard, improve his physical stamina and seize the chance to show what he can do. David has been a great help and we're all very grateful for everything he has done."

The duo were David’s guests of honour at Preston's recent home match versus Swindon Town. David said: "I'm delighted I had the chance to see Sergios playing while I was visiting our Cyprus Campus. To see him in Preston making the most of this opportunity is great. He's a very talented footballer and I'm delighted I could help. UCLan's Cyprus Campus is one of our best assets and this helps to build further links between us."

While in Preston he has been under the watchful gaze of PNE Academy Manager Nick Harrison. He said: "Credit to Sergios for coming over and joining in so well. He's taken to all the training sessions really well, coped with the physical demands, displayed his technical ability and shown he's a good footballer.

"For me it’s been a positive experience for both parties. He's been able to learn from us while the rest of the players have come up against an older player who has a different style of play to what they're used to. The way he's integrated so well with the group is a bonus."

Being a footballer does not mean Sergios has been able to avoid his academic studies as he has been using UCLan’s interactive educational software to compete his assignments.

Zinc-Net research gathers pace

Professor Nicola Lowe recently travelled to Spain to chair the latest Zinc-Net project meeting.

Colleagues from across Europe gathered in Granada for the three-day event which featured a series of discussion groups and presentations investigating Zinc biomarkers.

Leading nutrition expert Professor Bob Cousins was amongst the keynote speakers, offering fascinating insights live by Skype from Florida. Professor Cousins spoke about the issue of biomarkers from human studies of zinc status, to biomarkers of disease, and novel methodologies.

Network Coordinator Dr Marisol Warthon-Medina accompanied Professor Lowe to the event, which was part of ongoing research into the role of zinc in human biochemistry and physiology.

Zinc-Net, the 'Network for zinc in Biology', received £500,000 from the European Commission to fund the research over a four-year period.

Spanish trip cements future collaborations

UCLan SENS staff and students teamed up with colleagues from UCLan's School of Psychology for a study visit to Spain.

As part of the European Union's Erasmus+ scheme the group travelled to the Universidad de Extremadura to get a taster of the facilities on campus.

The students toured the Sport and Health Science department, as well taking a look around the food science and sensory laboratories.

The trip also provided first and second year undergraduates with the opportunity to conduct research as part of a study module.

A number of future collaborations are planned, with Spanish students making the return trip to UCLan this summer to work on research projects with Dr Howard Hurst and Dr Jonathan Sinclair, whilst a group from our Nutrition and Exercise Sciences programme are scheduled for a longer visit to Spain during the next academic year.

To view a selection of images from the trip please click here.

Diabetes event proves a big success

People living with diabetes and those at risk of the disease visited UCLan for a special event to learn more about coping with the condition and staying as healthy as possible.

Following the success of the inaugural Living with Diabetes Day last year, UCLan again teamed up with the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation and specialist diabetes teams from Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to run the event.

Aimed at people with both type one and type two diabetes, people at risk of developing the disease, carers or people with a general interest in the condition, the event allowed them to meet healthcare professionals, exercise specialists and dietitians.

Visitors participated in interactive workshops, including how to prevent long-term complications, glucose monitoring and amputation prevention.

UCLan SENS' Lecturer, Dr Swrajit Sarkar, organised the event. He said: "Living with Diabetes Day provides a unique opportunity for people in Lancashire to access a wealth of information and support under one roof. It allows them to speak to visiting healthcare professionals from local specialist diabetes teams, researchers, academics and professionals in exercise, diet and nutrition.

"We recognise the benefits of sharing and discussing concerns and experiences with like-minded people and healthcare professionals outside of the surgery or clinic setting in a supportive, relaxed and informal environment."

Attendees also took part in an exercise class at the end of the day, delivered by UCLan Physiotherapy Lecturer Colin Hayes, to learn some basic exercises that can be done at home.

Christine Elwell, Diabetes Dietitian and Diabetes Education Coordinator at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said: "We're really pleased to be part of this important awareness raising event. As a Trust we look to support any opportunity for people to understand more about living with diabetes and developing skills that can promote health for themselves and their families."

Lee Calladine, Educational Event Coordinator from Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, said: "We are extremely pleased to support and sponsor the second Lancashire Living with Diabetes Day, and to work collaboratively with Dr Swrajit Sarker, UCLan and the specialist diabetes teams from across the North West.

"This unique event brings together people living with both type one and type two diabetes, healthcare professionals, researchers and academics to create a day filled with helpful, informative and fun information about diabetes.

"We hope people who attended left feeling invigorated with new tools, skills and with an even greater understanding and enthusiasm of how to manage their diabetes so they can live life to the full."

To view images from the event please click here.

Nutrition Policy to Practice in Pakistan: Exploring the challenges and research opportunities

Professor Nicola Lowe recently visited Asia as part of her continuing research with the Abaseen Foundation, looking at the complex problem of malnutrition in Pakistan.

She met a number of key people during the visit, including, Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Professor Dr Mohammed Hafizullah, Vice Chancellor of Khyber Medical University and Muhammed Mushtaq Jadoon, the Secretary of the Health Department at the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

To read Professor Lowe's blog about the trip, please click here. The Tribune newspaper in Pakistan also covered the event. To view the story please click here.