Four new flagship research institutes have been launched at the University of Sheffield. The flagships bring together the University’s key academic strengths to tackle major issues facing humanity, using interdisciplinary research to help solve real-world problems. The four flagships are:
- Energy Institute at the University of Sheffield
- Neuroscience Institute at the University of Sheffield
- Healthy Lifespan Institute at the University of Sheffield
- Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield
Staff from the Department of Geography will play a prominent role in the Institute for Sustainable Food, which will be co-directed by Professor Peter Jackson, alongside Professor Duncan Cameron from the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences. The institute will focus on finding practical solutions to the challenges of food security and sustainability through academic research that bridges the natural and social sciences and with links to all of the University’s five Faculties.
The Institute for Sustainable Food consists of three pillars. Plant production and protection research draws on the University’s wealth of plant and soil science expertise, while the translational and transformative research pillar (co-led by Dr Anna Krzywoszynska) seeks to facilitate knowledge exchange with agri-businesses and policymakers, addressing the social, legislative and political context behind food security. The third pillar focuses on Food consumption, health and sustainability combining social science and public health nutrition with the latest natural science insights on the future of food. Dr Christian Reynolds is a key contact for this pillar.
As well as Peter, Anna and Christian, the Institute for Sustainable Food also incorporates the work of Professor Frances Cleaver, Professor Dorothea Kleine, Dr Megan Blake, Dr Ruth Little, Dr Manoj Menon and Dr Sam Outhwaite from the Department of Geography.
Besides the department’s involvement with the Institute for Sustainable Food, Geography staff are also part of the Energy Institute. Encompassing colleagues from both human and physical geography, Professor Ed Rhodes, Dr Darrel Swift and Dr Matt Watson are all involved in this new flagship.