About this Event
More than just a necessity, food represents a grand challenge for societies worldwide, impacting the well-being of our planet and all its inhabitants.
In this interactive workshop, delve into the challenges and opportunities surrounding food by exploring new and existing viewpoints, asking questions, and evaluating priorities.
You will learn about how research, innovation, collaboration, and including diverse voices across sectors and disciplines can accelerate the transition toward a food future focused on health, sustainability and equity.
Through guided conversations and thought-provoking activities, we will frame critical questions that research must tackle to shape a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food future for all.
About the Curious festival
The RSE’s Curious festival of knowledge is back, from 2−15 September!
Curious, is the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s festival of knowledge. It brings together a range of leading thinkers and invites anyone who is curious-minded to come together to learn, discuss big ideas, ask questions, and get curious across two weeks of free events.
Check out the full programme of events here.
SPEAKER
Prof Peter Alexander
Professor of Global Food Systems, University of Edinburgh
Alexander’s work focuses on modelling food and land use systems to better understand the social, economic and environmental interactions of supply, demand and trade, as well as competition for land between agriculture, forests and conservation. He led the development of the Land System Modular Model (LandSyMM [https://www.landsymm.earth/]), was a Lead Author for the 2022 IPCC Working Group II report and is a Coordinating Lead Author on UNEP’s 7th Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-7).
SPEAKER
Dr Tess Davis
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
Tess studied at the University of Edinburgh for her undergraduate degree in Philosophy & Psychology between 2013 - 2017, and for her master’s degree in social psychology between 2018 - 2019. Tess then moved to the University of Glasgow to complete my PhD in Psychology between 2019 - 2023. Tess worked as a Research Assistant in the School of Psychology & Neuroscience during her PhD in 2022, and after her PhD in 2023, before undertaking my ESRC Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 2024. Tess is now a member of the Complexity Programme in the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in the School of Health and Wellbeing. Tess is also chair of the Climate Justice Book Club, and co-chair of the UK Society of Behavioural Medicine Climate Change Special Interest Group.
SPEAKER
Prof Derek Stewart
Director of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre, The James Hutton Institute
Professor Derek Stewart is Director of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC, https://www.apgc.org.uk/), a £30M Tay Cities deal regional development project hosted at the James Hutton Institute. For over 30 years Derek has worked at the industry-academia interface and has led multiple (inter)national multi-partner projects that, to date, total ~£300M. As director of the APGC he oversees the novel research, development and innovation around crops grown and stored in controlled environments. As part of this he currently oversees several projects focussed on total controlled environment agriculture and publishes widely on the crop utility, quality and bioactivity.
SPEAKER
Prof Emilie Combet
Professor of Human Nutrition & Director of the Scottish Alliance for Food, University of Glasgow
Emilie is a professor of human nutrition at the University of Glasgow, where she leads a multidisciplinary research team investigating the impact of diet on health and disease. Her research focuses on the nutritional and environmental quality of foods and their impact on human health, with a particular interest in obesity and weight management, and how diet and dietary choices influence health span. With colleagues across Scotland, she is exploring how transdisciplinary research can address the complex challenges faced by our food system through the newly established Scottish Alliance for Food (https://scaf-arc.co.uk/ ), which she leads."
SPEAKER
Dr Michael Pierre Johnson
Innovation Leadership Fellow in the Creative Economy at the School of Innovation and Technology, Glasgow School of Art
Dr Michael Pierre Johnson is a design researcher in the creative economy who applies design-led mapping and modelling methods as part of strategic and participatory engagement in regional, sectoral and sustainable development. His research centres on making the effects, viability and value of creative work more explicit within complex collaborative contexts. By combining principles of actor-network theory with qualitative modes of analysis, Michael develops visual mapping methods to support reflexive discourse on the value of creative enterprise and innovation.
SPEAKER
Dr Lindsay Middleton
Knowledge Exchange Associate, University of Glasgow
Dr Lindsay Middleton is a literary historian of nineteenth-century food writing, and Knowledge Exchange Associate for the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Glasgow. Dr Middleton's research focuses on the literary qualities of recipes and cookbooks, analysing the representation of culinary technologies in order to understand how nineteenth-century authors situated themselves in the past, present, and future. Dr Middleton works with a range of researchers and industry stakeholders to create impact and partnership opportunities. In particular, she is interested in the ways that Arts and Humanities research can help transform the Scottish food industry, and food's potential within heritage properties.
SPEAKER
Dr Benjamin Jackson
Plant & Soil Ecologist Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh
Ben’s training is in ecosystem ecology and soil biogeochemistry. He has over a decade of research experience exploring plant-soil-microbe interactions and their consequences in the context of global environmental change. He currently provides specialist technical support to a large group of research students in the use of stable isotopes to help elucidate the agroecology of soil.
Important points to note
- This event is suitable for age 16+
- Accessibility Statement: We aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements, please make us aware of this just now during the booking stage. Or if you have any questions about how we can support your requirements, please contact the Curious team on: [email protected].
- Wheelchair spaces: If you would like to book a space as a wheelchair user, please select the ticket type 'wheelchair space ticket' during the booking process. If this is sold out, please contact the Curious team on [email protected].
- To view our full accessibility information please .
- Filming/photography: There may be photography/recording at this event. If you would like to not be recorded, please speak to a member of the Curious team when you arrive.
- Covid-19: If you would like to wear a face mask, please feel comfortable to do so at our events. Please be mindful of other participants and stay at home if you have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Royal Society Of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
